Friday 3 April 2009

Wild in a Country Town


As it was such a lovely sunny day on Sunday when we had our trip to the lakes in the gardens of a nearby town I took more photos than I had room for on my previous post so I thought I would share some more.

The Mute Swans really did look serene and beautiful in the sunshine.



It may be a humble, and I think, often overlooked little flower but to me the Daisy (Bellis perennis) summons up childhood days of endless school holidays with tea on the lawn and little fingers clumsily making Daisy chains.


In the wild area of the town gardens we visited I saw Cowslips (Primula veris).


Catkins.


My very favourite wild flower, the Primrose (Primula vulgaris)


And the lovely golden Marsh Marigolds or King Cups (Caltha palustris), another childhood favourite, growing by the fishing lakes.



Although not really 'wild' flowers these Drumstick Primroses (Primula denticulata) looked lovely growing among the grass in the wild area.




I also spotted this Grey Squirrel high in a tree.


These feral Pigeons were high in another tree.


Back past the lakes.



A lovely afternoon out in the sunshine and back home for a meal and a glass of wine....or two!

32 comments:

  1. Such gorgeous flowers and your 2nd mute swan photo is fantastic! I am so jealous of all of your pretty blooms. Ours are just starting but not soon enough for me.

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  2. alot of lovely photos. the first image is so serene, truly a wonderful spot to sit and stare.

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  3. Some lovely pictures there SS.

    I know what you mean about the "humble" daisy. I was at a National Trust property yesterday and there was a young couple sitting on the grass making a daisy chain - very romantic!! Lol

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  4. Great seeing all the spring flowers this time of year, and like you say, the Daisy has a way of invoking childhood memories.

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  5. Cheers ShySongbird ;-)

    These wonderful photos full of current treats will put all in the mood for a walk in the park, woodland or even our own gardens over the weekend :-D

    I am a huge fan of primroses and just love that wild one. I would see carpets and carpets of them in woodland walks and along roadsides as a child. I grew some from seed for my own garden a few years ago and find it has seeded itself about my garden too which is fantastic! However, the birds are prone to digging around the bases of a group near the feeders and make it difficult for them to grow – but flower they eventually do :-D

    Have a wonderful weekend :-D

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  6. Couldn't agree more with Shirl, SS, you've certainly given me some inspiration to try to get out at the weekend!!
    Jayne

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  7. Hi shysongbird.....when I see posts like this, it takes me back to childhood.....trips with Mum and Dad. Making daisy chains with Mum, sitting on the grass. I did it with my daughter and now my little granddaughter.....life passes by a little too quickly sometimes.....

    I love the marsh marigold.....such a bright and cheerful bloom....

    The glass of wine sounds good to.....

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  8. Kallen, Thank you for your very generous comments. At least Swans stay relatively still for their photo opportunity!
    It really is so nice after the long Winter days to see all the signs of new life and I'm sure it will be the same where you are soon.

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  9. Marmee, Thank you very much and yes it is a lovely place to visit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

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  10. Tricia, Thank you. Yes I think the Daisy is a pretty little flower which we 'forget' to look at because it is so familiar, but I do love all flowers even the most inconspicuous!

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  11. holdingmoments, Yes I love this time of year everything seems so much more cheerful and full of promise.

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  12. Shirl, Thank you very much, it looks like it should be nice here again this Sunday so I expect we will all feel ready to get out and enjoy the sunshine again.
    The wild Primrose is my all time favourite wild flower and I too have some in my garden given to me some years ago by an elderly neighbour when she divided some clumps. She had originally taken them many years before from the local woods before it was illegal to do so.
    I hope you enjoyed the bottle(s!) of champagne you mentioned and your special day.
    Have a lovely and I hope sunny weekend.

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  13. Jayne, thanks I hope you do manage to get out and that the weather is good for you.

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  14. Cheryl, I really think it is the simple pleasures of our childhood which we remember most, just as you mention. You are so right life does go by too quickly sometimes.
    The Marsh Marigold again brings back memories for me of country walks and spotting the first ones of the season.
    The glass of wine certainly was good, another of life's pleasures!!

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  15. What a lovely blog you have! I will bookmark it and come back often!

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  16. Love the framing of the first photo - looking between the two tress to the bridge and the reflection. Idyllic. Also enjoyed the swan and bloom photos. Looks like a lovely place for a walk in the sunshine.

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  17. Primroses are my favourite wild flower too. When I was a child we had lots of them in an uncultivated part of our garden. I used to pick them and arrange them in bowls with wet moss for my mother.

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  18. What a lovely serene spot. I felt my blood pressure go down just looking at it. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful get-away with us.

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  19. Gilly, Thank you for visiting and for your very kind comments, you will be most welcome any time!

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  20. Midmarsh John, thank you very much, you are very kind. You are right it is a really beautiful and peaceful place to visit.

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  21. Z, thank you so much for visiting. When I was a child the first walk of the season to the local woods to gather Primroses, (it wasn't illegal then), was a much anticipated annual event and I remember I would tidy my bedroom without being asked (much to my parents amazement!) so that I could display them prettily around the room. I love them just as much now.

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  22. Morning Glories in Round Rock, thank you so much, your lovely comments do wonders for my blood pressure!! You are very right it is a beautiful place to visit and enjoy.

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  23. Some really nice photos, Regards Phil

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  24. What a lovely cheery posting Shysongbird. Fair lifts the heart seeing all those spring flowers. After this long winter these last few weeks of sunshine are a pleasure.

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  25. Hi Shy.
    Re: Your comment on my blog about bird song, you will pick it up, it takes time though. It's best to go out with someone who knows the songs, and can point them out. try to distinguish the songs from one another, then try put a name to them. It's like remembering old pop songs!!

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  26. Hi Shysongbird, lovely swan photos. An inetersting mix of wildlife that you saw. I loved the cheeky squirrel shot too.

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  27. Phil and Mandy, thanks very much.

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  28. Andrew at Quicksilverbirds, thank you, I think this time of year does make us all feel more cheery and after the long winter and poor excuse for a summer the last two years it has as you say been a pleasure this last few weeks to enjoy the sunshine.

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  29. Warren Baker, thanks for your constructive advice. I do struggle with song identification and honestly think some peoples brains are better geared to it than others but I shall keep trying. Old pop songs I can manage but they have words! Now that would be helpful if the birds could speak our language, I dread to think what they might say though!!

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  30. Joe, thanks so much for visiting and for your kind comments. It is nice to photograph water birds occasionally, at least they don't hide behind branches and do stay in one place for more than a moment! I expect we can look forward to seeing some on your site after your visit to the coast next weekend.
    I agree that Squirrel did look cheeky!

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  31. You have just brightened up my evening with all those beautiful pictures!

    I love the squirrel picture!

    Love Lou xxx

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  32. Lou, you are so kind and I'm glad to have brightened your evening. You brighten my day with each visit.
    Lots of love and XXXX to you and Poppy.

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