Naturefile

[jay hay-char]

Wow! That is a really lovely picture...
I know what you mean about the colour of spring leaves - they're almost fluorescent, aren't they? When I was a child, my Grampy used to call the pale, new hawthorn hedges"bread & cheese" and Somerset country folk used to eat the leaves like salad.
I love the way the sun catches the tops of the tallest trees as it sets this time of year, too.

Everything's fluorescent at the moment

 

[KevinPotts]

There are some truly beautiful gardens shown here. They are a delight to see. I have a small garden, in Cambridge UK, which I've divided into 6 separate spaces, but each is anchored thematically with hydrangea arborescenes annabelle, Erigeron, holding it all together.

 

[Greenwave]

Truly wonderful photos.

 

[KevinPotts]

Thanks greenwave...gardening is such a delight and good for keeping the weight off

 

[debrasue]

Oops! I think we might be in danger of hijacking @liam1955's Naturefile thread with our gardens! Sorry, William x
As we seem to have some very accomplished gardeners in our community (and I am in awe of the amount of work that has gone into your garden, @KevinPotts! It's totally gorgeous!), I'll start a new thread on General Chat - Gardenfile - where we can share pictures and tips on our pride and joy...
Hope to see you there

 

[debrasue]

Is that bamboo in your beautiful photo?

No, it's a flowering shrub called forsythia, from the family Oleaceae (olive family), often used in hedges or as a garden shrub here in the UK. It's usually among the first shrubs to flower in the spring.

 

[KevinPotts]

Sorry William, I should have paid more attention.

 

[KevinPotts]

Debrause, please do start a new gardening thread, that would be amazing.

 

[KevinPotts]

Forsythia is so beautiful at this time of year.

 

[debrasue]

Debrause, please do start a new gardening thread, that would be amazing.

It's done!
Looking forward to seeing & hearing more about your amazing garden, Kevin!

 

[KevinPotts]

Brilliant Deb, how do I find it. I'll out up some picks from last summer so you get the sense of scale in terms of how it's going to develop.

 

[debrasue]

Brilliant Deb, how do I find it. I'll out up some picks from last summer so you get the sense of scale in terms of how it's going to develop.

Go to General Chat in the Forums, and you'll find the thread Gardenfile

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/gardenfile.100766/

 

[KevinPotts]

Thanks Deb!

 

[chris lowe]

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/index.php?posts/113428
The picture of the plant with pinkish/purplish flowers is a type of geranium common name Cranesbill. It's very good for ground cover & suppressing weeds

 

[KevinPotts]

Yes Chris I love the cranesbill

 

[debrasue]

I was able to take a drive with the "lid" off my car today for the first time this year. I love it - you really feel a part of the countryside that way. Forests seem more secret, country lanes quieter and more peaceful, and the open roads are exhilarating.

There's quite a lot of farmland in this area and several huge fields of oilseed rape. I'm not a big fan of it really and find it can be quite harsh on the eyes, but the smell of it in the sunshine today was heady and almost intoxicating.
A year or two ago I walked in a field of rape (carefully, leaving no trace) and again the smell of the blossoms was wonderful. I remember how cool the petals felt against my bare arms, and the microcosm of tiny insects living out their lives on the bright, yellow blooms, completely oblivious to the rest of the 21st century. It was an oddly humbling experience, yet liberating at the same time.
I can highly recommend it, if you feel that way inclined!

 

[KevinPotts]

You should be a poet Deb or a published author, you have a great way with words.

 

[debrasue]

You should be a poet Deb or a published author, you have a great way with words.

Aww, thanks Kevin! (My brother's called Kevin, by the way, and he always calls me Deb, too. Spooky...!)
Actually, I have had a few books published, although I mostly write stories for children. I'm not much of a poet, though!

 

[slip]

Been reading through this thread - just brilliant, time to charge up the camera batteries and dust the bag and tripod off.

Many a time out walking the dog we see such amazing wild life, I'll see if I can catch a Red Kite this weekend! I might even get a deer or 3, although having 3 white bottoms bouncing away across the field being chased by my avatar doesn't make a good picture!

Seen plenty of swallows and we had a mass of ladybirds the other day 'partying' on a public path - well it is May and that's when they get down and dirty - but in public!?!

 

[KevinPotts]

Please get those pics and upload them to this thread, we'd love to see them.