The first made me smile because the snow is adding an extra layer of variegation to the reddish and cream edges of these green leaves. Continue reading “Snowy Plants and Places”
Hydrangeas In Winter
It snowed again overnight. Flakes falling silently outside my window as I write make the world look enchanted, but I’m more inclined to keep warm with a cup of coffee than to venture out. Instead, I’ve dug out these pictures from the first snowfall we had at the start of winter, before the hydrangea flowers all gave up the ghost and turned brown.
The blue hydrangea is for Becky’s SquareUp as the snow is trying to cover up the mopheads. Continue reading “Hydrangeas In Winter”
Darwen Moor In The Snow
Regular readers have been hearing rather a lot about Darwen’s Jubilee Tower, but I couldn’t resist adding some pictures of the moor after snowfall. Continue reading “Darwen Moor In The Snow”
Darwen Market Hall In The Snow
I recently shared pictures of my home town, Darwen, in the rain. Here’s the same area with a light covering of snow. Continue reading “Darwen Market Hall In The Snow”
Wordless Wednesday: Hawthorn Trees in Winter
Bold Venture Park In Winter
My home town, Darwen, has several Victorian parks, including Bold Venture Park. At the entrance, an angel, now nearly 100 years old, holds up a wreath and an olive branch to remind us of the consequences of war and to commemorate those who fell in WW1. The angel’s wings are the first things you see when approaching from the town.
Bold Venture is a hillside park with an interesting topography, built around quarries and steep ravines. A small lake, home to ducks, is another visual magnet. The lake rarely freezes right over, but was cold enough to support a band of ice, covered in snow in places.
Fern Frozen Against A Mossy Moor
An old, unflattering rhyme I’ve never liked calls my home town’s moors bleak and barren. Perhaps if you don’t like moorland or have never taken the time to walk on it, you might think so. I suppose some people might care little for what walkers can find on a winter day up there by venturing a few steps off the path.
If you follow my blog you can expect to see brighter, bolder pictures of plant combinations taken in gardens or at flower shows, where skilled, creative hands have put together their best for public consumption.
I’m not sure you’ll see any plant combination I could look at with much more pleasure than this.
In the textures of the frozen vegetation, I seem to see fabric: the fern becomes lace; the moss, wool or velvet. The colours are alluring too: sage, mint and chocolate, the latter frosted to mink. Nothing is jazzy, all is harmonious. I’d love something to wear in a design inspired by this.
It may appear haphazard – there are a few wayward stems, but the fern and strands of grass have surrendered to the frost gracefully and a natural order is appearing – of sorts. Towards the top left, a thaw has started. Continue reading “Fern Frozen Against A Mossy Moor”
