Lilly

Lilly flowering in pond.  Nikon D7000

30th June 2012

Although the water lilly in the pond is not flowering yet, one of the marginal lillies has decided to put on a show.

It seems very happy there, although I am not sure whether it is wetter at the roots or at the bloom itself at the moment!   The sun was shining while it was raining luckily so there are a few nicely lit water drops on the flower.

Low-key Glass

Glass in low-key.  Nikon D7000

29th June 2012

In continuing a theme of everyday objects, I thought I would try a classic challenge of photographing glass.  I decided on a low-key image again, similar to the previous one of forks (mainly as I still had the black-card to hand). 

After a bit of thought, I realised I only needed enough black card to fill the image frame; everything else needs to be white around it so that it creates the highlights on the glass and makes the form visible.

The glass is only holding blackcurrant squash unfortunately rather than wine, but still needed a white sticky label on the back of the glass in order to make the juice show up as red.

I must think of something easier next time!

Hello Mrs Robinson

Black currants.  Nikon D7000

28th June 2012

At last the Blackcurrants are squishy enough to make them look sweet; they are still surprisingly sharp, but rather special.

It has taken a while since they were green, but the sun over the last few days seems to have helped ripen them.

I think I had better pick them soon before the birds decide to attack the crop the same way they made the redcurrants vanish.

Snappy Flower

Venus Flytrap flower.  Nikon D7000

27th June 2012

This was a first for me today; after many weeks of the bud growing slowly, the flower on Alex's Venus Flytrap has opened.  I have never seen a Venus Flytrap flower before.

It is not what I expected.  I thought it may be all green with 'teeth', a bit like the leaves.

Just beware flies; although the flower is rather lovely, something sinister lurks below....

Venus Fly-Trap leaf.  Nikon D7000

Common, yet uncommon

Garden Snail.  Nikon D7000

26th June 2012

I realised today that despite all the drippy weather we have had for the last month or two, this is the first good sized garden snail I have seen active in the garden.

I have seen a few snails out in the fields, but not in the garden. Maybe that is why our Hosta's still have leaves on.  I am not sure if it was the cold winter, or maybe some of our other garden visitors that have reduced the numbers of gastropods around.

As this snail seemed a little lost (on the gate rather than a plant), I resisted squishing it; I may also need it later in the year for another photo opportunity :)

Tayberries

First Tayberry.  Nikon D7000

25th June 2012

The rash of sun today has ripened the first of the Tayberries.  There seems to be a huge spread of ripeness all the way from red blush, through green and bullet like, to unpollinated flowers.

Given my experience with the red currants and the beady eyes and sharp beaks of the birds, 'I came, I saw, I ate'.

Tough luck birds; better luck with the next one that ripens.

Triffids

Buscot House.  Nikon D7000

24th June 2012

We paid a brief visit to Buscot Park this afternoon.  The weather was nice and the children cooperated.  The children fancied a swim, but I thought it looked a little cold so we decided not too.

In an addition to yesterdays post, I noticed while walking round that Buscot has garden gnomes too.  Their gnomes are a little more lifelike (and mostly made of metal), however they do not seem to be having as much fun as ours.

This gnome seemed to be reeling from the advancing Clematis; although it does look a little more like a scene from 'Day of the Triffids' than the bindweed in our garden.

Gnome at Buscot.  Nikon D7000