Walk in the Park

It was time to get away from the desk, a lovely, relatively cool day beckoned

so I chose to visit the delightful walking trails provided in nearby

Torrens Valley at Highbury.

(Having intended to focus on the walk and not photography, I didn't take along my Nikon,

however, I couldn't resist taking some shots, so my Smartphone had to suffice...!)

Adelaide is a blaze of purple at present, as the glorious Wisteria shows off its beauty

... and here, I think, is a what looks like a wild sweet pea ?

Wishing you all a safe and happy week as we link up with grateful thanks to the hosts of

Our World Tuesday

Paracombe outing

Thought it was about time I got back to posting on my blog - the stuff of life has distracted me recently!  (but I don't feel too guilty as I see others have had similar experiences) ..

Had a couple of photo-shoot outings this week through Paracombe (in the Adelaide foothills of the Mt Lofty Ranges)

Pear orchards . . . .

Growth on the edge of the road

Looking across the valley to Mt Lofty

a marvellous lagoon en route

Broom bush (I think!)

... and this beautiful blossom was on a tree at the edge of the pear orchard and I have no idea at all what it might be !

I look forward to playing "catch up" with my fellow bloggers' posts.

Whatever part of the world you live in, I pray that you will be safe and continue to share the beauty of your region with us all.

Linking up with Lady Fi and the team at Our World Tuesday

Morialta Conservation Park

 

The following images were captured during a lovely morning's outing yesterday through a small section of Morialta Conservation Park, about 1/2 hour's drive from Adelaide's CBD.

 Eastern Rosella

A variety of Banksia

Pacific Black Duck

A male Red-Headed Mouse Spider

(apparently a similar species to the Trapdoor and Funnel-web spiders)

- although research suggests this one is not generally aggressive, I was thankful our feet were well-protected!

 

 

Hop on over to Our World Tuesday 

to see more images from different parts of our amazing world.

(and thank you to the team of hosts of that site)

 

 

Pretty buds

While out and about exploring the Congleton area in Cheshire, UK earlier this year, I came across this pretty cluster of buds

 

Wishing you all a happy, safe and healthy 2015 with some great adventures "on the side" and ever-present photographic opportunities.



 

I look forward to viewing your images.

England's Lake District

Back in early May, I spent a couple of days (way too short a time!) in the Lake District of England, based in a charming 17th Century BnB at Ayside where I was warmly greeted by the "locals", this was just a 10 minute drive from the southern edge of Lake Windemere.

This gorgeous mother and daughter team of Highland Laboradors were a delight with their enthusiastic welcomes

I so admire the patience and skill of those who built these iconic stone and slate boundaries centuries ago.

This brilliant blossom provided a blaze of colour as I made my way down to the ferry landing at Fell Foot

where I spotted this Black Headed Gull (their masking is actually chocolate brown in Summer - as was the case here)

 

and this was some of the surrounding scenery viewed from the ferry 

(I took a 3/4 hr round trip on Windemere)

Linking up with Outdoor Wednesday (and thank you Susan for hosting)

After the snow ...

Spotted this fascinating "blossom" within Gowlland Tod Provincial Park on Vancouver Island

(which has subsequently been identified as "clematis vitalbae" - many thanks to fellow blogger, MaryAustria)

... and here the Tod Inlet is frozen over

(a regular visitor to the park who was there on the day commented that she has lived

in the area for more than 20 years and has never seen this occur before)

..some funghi

and a frozen/thawing creek

aahh.... so many delights on which to feast the eyes (and camera lens)!

Linking up (with grateful thanks to the respective hosts) to:

macro monday 2
our world tuesday
Outdoor Wednesday

Blossoms Galore!





These were the welcoming sights last week to visitors at Canberra's

Tulip Top Gardens.

This glorious venue is a family operated garden on 10+ acres which is open to the

public for 4 weeks each year from mid-September.

Over half a million bulbs and flowers are planted by hand each year and, as their

blooms unfold, a spectacular display is created amongst the 1000 blossom trees.

(I will be featuring some of the magnificent tulips displayed in coming weeks)

Linking up with James' Weekend Reflections

(congratulations James on your 4th anniversary and many thanks

for providing us with the opportunity to contribute to this site and visit

the images posted by others)

Just blossoming

 

                                      Linking up with Macro Monday 2 and
                                                    Today's Flowers