Category: photography

Strands – Discovering a Beach – Part Two

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date December 29, 2013
4 Comments on Strands – Discovering a Beach – Part Two

Back on our favourite beach on the North Wales coast we are carrying on our discovery of the gifts the sea has deposited on the strandline. First she uses her power to shape and smooth, to erode hard and soft matter alike. Feathers, seaweed, boulders, stones and all sorts of wood.

I promised a selection of images of pebbles that the sea has created from man made materials normally found on a building site.

We followed on carefully studying the pebble beach and the strandline picking up interesting pebbles and shells until we felt we needed to turn around and start back. We decided to walk back following the grass path along the top of the beach so made our way carefully over the pebbles and rounded boulders upwards. When doing this we found the remains of an old wooden pier now exposed and well-eroded. This slowed our progress to a stop as here there was so much of interest.

Enjoy our exploration of the old wooden structures and share with us the smells, sounds and sights all around. Follow the gallery by clicking on the first photo and using the right arrow to move on.

The sea forced the pebble between the wooded pieces like a magic trick.

Once we decided to make our way back to the car we started searching for objects we wanted to collect to take home as added features to our seaside garden. This part of our garden needs a revamp in the spring so the items we collected will be most useful.

In Strands Part Three we will make our way back to the car and a welcome cup of coffee!

Tags beach combing, beaches, North Wales, sea, seaside, shorelands, the sea

colours landscapes light light quality outdoor sculpture photography the sea the seaside the shore

Strands – Discovering a Beach – Part One

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date December 27, 2013
4 Comments on Strands – Discovering a Beach – Part One

To help us forget the winter and escape the winter blues I will write a series about a day at a beach in North Wales. We spent the day on a lovely windswept stretch of beach near Conwy. We are big beach lovers and this has been favourite for decades. It is so different every single time we visit it. We have loved walks here on hot sunny days under bright blue skies, freezing cold days wrapped in thick coats, scarves and hats under clear thin blue winter skies, windswept days under heavy grey clouds and wet days when we walk heads down and hoods up.

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We never know what to expect, how much sand there will be, whether the sand will be smooth or deeply rippled, whether the strandline will be full of feathers, driftwood and seaweed and whether the boulders and pebbles will be exposed. We love discovering driftwood of whatever size or shape, but always of course smooth as velvet, ground down by the power of the sea. We have found tiny curly bits of heather roots, old sections of telegraph poles, bits of boats of all sizes and parts of trees from who knows where. We often find sections of buildings, clumps of bricks or stone, some locked together by twisted lengths of metal red with rust. Sea Gull feathers stick out of the strandline debris at all angles, all grey, white or black. Sadly we find lots of plastic, the worse type of the debris of man and his throw away society. On 26th September 2013 we came to our beach to celebrate Jude, aka Mrs Greenbench, aka The Undergardener’s birthday. We usually celebrate each other’s birthdays by having special days out. This special day was a cold one, so we were wrapped up well against the cold wind. It is invariably cold here, just some days it is a lot windier than others. I have recently read a book called “Strands. A Year of Discoveries on the Beach” by poet Jean Sprackland, which featured her own favourite stretch of beach. In it she describes those little clumps of artefacts, the miscellany of collected objects that the wind brings together and deposits on the strandline where an obstacle takes it from the clutches of the wind. “The sea itself makes its own strange artefacts, combining rope and wood and miscellaneous plant material into eclectic tangles known as “mare’s nests”, a name which describes their muddle and untidiness as well as their illusory and paradoxical nature.”

An artist has been at work creating pictures in the sand, the sea itself. The receding tide becomes its paintbrush leaving patterns of light and shade.

As we move along the beach the colour of the sand varies sometimes a purer silver as in the last photo in this batch but at other times it is more of a buff colour as in the first pic.

The powerful influence of the artist tides encourages even the least creative of people to make art. They collect and sort stones, pebbles and wood and make pictures and sculptures in the sand and on the grass strip beyond.

The seashore possesses a flora all its own. Flowers and leaves which are spotted nowhere else, with thickened stems, white backed leaves and other tactics to help withstand the attacks from the salt laden sea air. We are frequently tempted to walk up the sands over the pebbles and study the greenery.

We soon return to our searching of the strandline, heads down eyes wide. We spot pebbles with interesting textures, with narrow white lines on as if drawn by pen or paint brush, or lines of seaweed.

A few years back we decided to see if we could collect together a pocket full of pebbles with white lines on, with the intention of creating a circle. We managed to do this and created a circle of quartz lines, but added one black line for interest.

You may have noticed that in several of these pictures the pebbles are actually smoothed down building materials. Look at the beach sculptures and spot the one piece made entirely of sea worn old bricks. The sea has enough power to smooth off sharp corners, remove glazed sides and gently round bricks and concrete blocks into pebbles. Similarly sea glass appears just like pebble gems.

In our second visit to our beach we will be searching these out. See you in Strands Part Two.

allotments birds community gardening fruit and veg garden photography garden wildlife gardening gardens grasses grow your own hardy perennials kitchen gardens light light quality meadows natural pest control ornamental grasses ornamental trees and shrubs photography roses spring bulbs wildlife Winter Gardening

What’s on the Plots? An end of year wander around the allotments.

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date December 23, 2013
4 Comments on What’s on the Plots? An end of year wander around the allotments.

Mid-December often sees the allotment site under snow or at least coated in frost, but not this year. We wandered around today with camera in hand and we were appreciative of the bright clear blue sky overhead. The midday sun cast long sharp shadows and it had enough strength in it for us to feel its warmth.

Having checked the post box for messages, and left a few magazines in the communal hut for others to enjoy, we started our tour at Wendy’s lovely plot. There is always something of interest to see and new things going on. We were not to be disappointed today. The sun caught the bright fiery colours of the willow hedge surrounding her compost heap.

On an obelisk where the soft bark paths cross the striped flag glowed alongside a sparkling glitterball, while this character decorated her shed door. A cranky old monk? Brother Cadfael perhaps when he was dropped by the BBC.

We next moved to the Autumn Garden and our newly planted section alongside our young fedge. The tree here is a Crataegus prunifolia which gives rich red autumn colour and deep red berries which is underplanted with bulbs. The border is planted up with sedum, asters, ferns, some perennial native flora and small shrubs. The cones and catkins of alders are beginning to get their purple hue. Cotoneaster leaves are as red as their berries.

On many plots old crops sit forgotten in places whilst others await being picked throughout the winter. The sprouts will grace a plot holder’s Christmas dinner spread.

Chard leaves on a sunny day are delightful. The reds, yellows and purples of their leaves and stems glow with the sun behind them.

Further along the borders of the Autumn Garden we passed Trevor’s plot where there is always an interesting development to find. Today we discovered his new shed number. He must have problems remembering his plot number or needs to arrange to visit an optician.

In the final section of the Autumn Garden the grass Calamagrostis acutifolia “Overdam” stand tall and to attention and gentle honey scents flow from the lemon flowered Mahonia.

On the shed roof of Plot 68 the massive scarecrow is looking worse for wear after our recent weather featuring heavy rains and strong winds. In the summer he won our annual scarecrow competition. It is hard to believe how he wowed our visitors on our Open Day.

In the first orchard the last fruit hangs on, a golden crab apple. Fennel is already sporting new foliage on Alan’s plot and the last of the Raspberry fruits sit awaiting a hungry Blackbird. Close by in the first Buddleja Border a Shistsotylus bravely blooms on with an early Primula.

The Globe Artichoke in the second Buddleja Border will soon burst and finches will flock in to feed off them, especially Goldfinches and Linnets.

We then took a detour to see what is happening on our own plot, Number 37. The last of the flowers in our wildflower mini-meadow are bravely hanging on and a few of our parsnips have gone to flower producing chartreuse umbrella heads. A few autumn raspberries provide welcome food for Blackbirds.

We moved on towards our old oak tree past plots where winter grown crops await Christmas dinners in members homes, leeks with their glaucous strappy leaves and sprouts behind netting protected against marauding Wood Pigeons.

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This little scarecrow bravely guards overwintering alliums.

The Oak invariably looks wonderfully majestic but on a winter’s afternoon it excels with its long sharp shadows and silhouette of bare branches. In the spring Garden nearby the first bulbs are coming into flower, a pale Muscari, pushing their way through fallen oak leaves.

On Sharon’s plot her frog thermometer shows it is mild for December and near by a lone apple hangs waiting to give sustenance to the Blackbirds.

Glyn’s plot is well covered in a mat of green manures, so no heavy rain is going to leach away the goodness from the soil. Now that is good gardening!

In the Sensory Garden the rose hips sparkle away in the winter sun which glows through the last of the rose bush’s foliage. Grasses here always look good but add extra movement in the gentlest of breezes.

In the big meadow the last of the Red Campion and the Honesty are gamely flowering still. A lone bloom of Rosa Shropshire Lad casts a beautiful fruity scent across the picnic area.

The bunting on Brian’s shed looks faded now but still adds cheer. The sunlight beams through the Dedge and intensifies the flat plate flower heads of the late Achillea.

The Winter Garden is beginning to come into its own with peeling bark, powdery white stems and fluffy grass seed heads.

Moving on into the site extension we find our newest insect hotel still standing after recent strong winds. As usual I have string and my Opinel garden knife in my pocket so tie it back to the fence. The bamboo looks settled in its new home at the end of the proposed Garden of Contemplation. From here we can see the mass of “keys” adorning every branch of our ancient Ash tree.

Our long shadows look out across the site.

In the second orchard the crab apples still have much fruit left on and these give bright patches of colour visible from all over the site.

The stems of the coppiced willows in the Withy Bed shine as they start to show their late winter colour. This is something we are looking forward to. We have 17 different willow here in every colour possible.

We are just beginning to prepare the ground for our new Prairie Garden which we shall make in the new year. This big patch of bare ground promises to become a riot of year round colour. We can’t wait to get started. On nearby plots we spot a patch of another green manure, Grazing Ryegrass and another lone apple on a tree.

On Ian’s plot a big pile of farmyard manure waits the time when he digs it into the soil to add nutrients, humus and structure. It won’t take him long – he is a strong chap.

Returning to the communal hut along the wide path we spot this old beer can acting as a cane top rattling away by the old sweetcorn stalks. On Mandy’s plot this little insect home will be looking after hibernating friendly critters who will emerge in the spring to eat pests such as aphids. Dave’s flags hang sadly atop their poles.

As we returned to the car we noticed the first signs of growth on our spring bulbs. The first leaves of the daffodils have just made their way through the bark mulch. A promise of golden flowers to come. Our wheelbarrows give a big splash of colour in low sunlight.

arboreta autumn autumn colours garden design garden photography gardening gardens gardens open to the public ornamental trees and shrubs photography trees woodland

Another Day at Bodenham

We have shared a visit to the wonderful arboretum near Kidderminster in Worcestershire before but we visited again this autumn and were equally enthralled by the collection of trees, common, less well-known and even rare. So come back with us now on our return to Bodenham. Let us simply celebrate in photographs!

It is always good to find a tree you do not know, one you have not got the faintest idea what it might be. At Bodenham on this visit it was the Wingnut Tree.

Tags acers., arboreta, arboretum, trees

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Telescopes and Trees – part two

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date November 28, 2013
3 Comments on Telescopes and Trees – part two

Back at Jodrell Bank as we explored the arboretum nestled amidst natural woodlands, we looked forward to finding our first Sorbus. We were surprised upon finding them that several had already lost all their foliage and some had dropped all their berries too. Luckily the majority still looked good.

Sorbus “Leonard Messell” was a good one to start off with. Its berries were the palest of pink with a deep blush and they were enhanced by finely cut foliage.

With larger berries in a coral pink Sorbus yunanensis looked a distant relative. Its leaves were much larger and far less divided.

Sorbus kewensis was a tall stately specimen of a tree.

Where trees had lost all foliage and their berries hung on bare branches they looked very stark against the clear blue autumn sky.

There were more to be found around each corner as the path took a turn, each with its own special colour, size and shape of berry.

After enjoying so many wonderful berried trees we left the arboretum and spent the last hour left to us while the site remained open enjoying a closer look at the telescopes and the parkland in which they sat. These massive creations of man certainly lacked the delicacy and wonderful colours of Mother Nature’s creations but they did have an attraction of their own when set against the clear blue sky.

Tags arboretum, rowans, sorbus, telescopes

autumn autumn colours birds garden design garden photography garden wildlife gardening grasses hardy perennials migration ornamental grasses ornamental trees and shrubs photography trees

A Garden Bouquet for November

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date November 24, 2013
4 Comments on A Garden Bouquet for November

I began writing this post in mid-november when we should have been surrounded by the blaze of autumn colour, the hedges and trees should be on fire with the reds and oranges and the autumn migrant thrushes should be gorging on the berries in the hedgerows and gardens. At that time there was little sign of these things happening.

As we move towards the end of November things have changed greatly. We now garden to the sounds of migrant thrushes passing high over head, Redwings, Fieldfares and Mistle Thrushes and a few small flocks are settling in our berried trees. They see us as a stopping off point where they can gorge on the berries and fruits of our Crab Apples, Sorbus and Cotoneasters.

But what will they see when they drop in? Come with me and my camera for a wander.

Tags autumn, autumn colours, autumn leaves, autumn plants, birds, foliage, garden photography, garden wildlife, gardening, grasses, ornamental trees, sculpture

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Out of Nature – an outdoor sculpture exhibition.

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date November 7, 2013
3 Comments on Out of Nature – an outdoor sculpture exhibition.

“Out of Nature” was the name given to a sculpture exhibition staged in Newport House in Herefordshire situated a little south of Kington. Most of the pieces were displayed in the sensitive background of the gardens but a few were featured in the cafe. The photo above shows how simple staging can be very effective and can enhance the pieces themselves especially those created from stone or metal. The staging was simply recycled scaffold planks as shelving and breeze block stands.

On the lawn alongside the entrance to the cafe this semi-transparent piece glowed and demanded a closer look.

Behind the buildings was a series of small brick enclosed gardens and here the light of early autumn gave extra vibrancy to the sculpture pieces.

Leaving the enclosed gardens we walked through an avenue where each tree displayed hanging metal pieces.

The walled garden was a short walk down the drive and along a trackway where we found an archway in the tall brick walls. Through this we found old restored greenhouses where sculptures were displayed. We found others lining the path to the greenhouses.

The gardens themselves had many attractive features and are worth a visit in their own right, so my my next blog will give you a taste of what they have to offer.

Tags community gardening, garden photography, gardening, outdoor sculpture, sculpture

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Return to the Fold

You may remember in an earlier posting on my Greenbenchramblings blog that we enjoyed a walk up a local hill to find the stone circle called Mitchell’s Fold. Recently when my brother and his wife, Graham and Vicky, came to stay with us in lovely Shropshire they fancied a walk somewhere with a feeling of openness, calm and peace. So, we returned to “The Fold”.

For the first set of photos I stood in the middle of the stone circle and took a series of six pics as I moved around in a circle taking in the 360 degree view.

And then I took a series of shots of the stones themselves, the stones that give this special place a unique feeling and atmosphere. Calm. Peace. Contentment. When we stood within the circle of stones we realised why it has been for thousands of years a place of worship and magic.

Mother nature has been at work here growing beautiful grasses, sedges, fungi and flowers specially suited to the difficult terrain.

Graham and Vicky who live down in a town in the South of England, were blown away by the massive views and the 360 degrees through which eyes and mind can wander.

This place is where we expect to see unusual birds but not very many of them. Today was no exception as we enjoyed the sight of small pipits and finches being buffeted in the winds and birds of prey such as Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Kestrel and Buzzard hunting in their own special ways taking advantage of the slopes and thermals. We met a special creature on our way up the track from the stone circle to the cairns atop the hill. A dung beetle. Its name is a little off-putting as is its habit of moving dung around by rolling it into balls. But they are fascinating little critters who are one of nature’s great recyclers. This little glossy black spherical beetle had iridescent kingfisher blue legs that flashed as it moved and when turned over it revealed similar brightness

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As we turned at the end of the outward leg of our trek we made our way up to the top of the ridge where we stop for refreshment at the cairn. We searched for a stone as we moved uphill as we like to follow the tradition of putting our own stone on the cairn to mark our presence. The views from the cairn wre stunning and simply huge!

Our little stone sat happily among its much larger cousins who will protect it from the extremes of our weather.

The coffee and fruit stop was most welcome and came at the right time as Vicky and Graham’s looks of anticipation illustrate.

Suitably refreshed and impressed with the hill top cafe facilities we made our way along the ridge and slowly back down to the car.

On the way back down we came across an area where the bracken was glossy and shone in the afternoon sunshine, a phenomena we have not experienced before.

Tags birds, hills, Mitchells Fold, Shropshire Hills, South Shropshire Hills, stone circles, wildlife

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Taking advantage of the light.

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date September 8, 2013
9 Comments on Taking advantage of the light.

Early September sees the light values changing in subtle ways. As the sun dips against a blue sky and evening takes over from the day, light comes into the garden from much lower down. This angle has a magical effect on the prairie planting in our Beth Chatto Garden.

I couldn’t resist taking my camera with long lens out the first time I was lucky enough to spot these first signs of Autumn. Please let me know what you think of these photos. I have included every shot I fired off in a brief ten minutes of special light. Catch the moment!

So here is the gallery warts and all, no interference from Photoshop. As usual click on any photo to get going and then click on the arrow.

Tags agapanthus, flower photography, garden photography, grasses, hardy perennials, light quality, light vales, photographing plants, photography

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A Garden Gallery

After posting my “Bouquet for August” a few days ago I was wandering around our patch with camera in hand taking photos for our son Jamie and his fiancée, Sammy as they had asked us to go over to help redesign their garden. They have lived with their cottage garden for 6 months or so now and are beginning to feel they need to add their own touches to it. From what they had said I felt I knew what sort of planting they were after so I decided that the best way to show them was with a series of photos.

These photos give a snapshot of our garden plants. Please enjoy my garden gallery. As usual just click on any image to get started and click the arrow to progress through.