A Little More Barnsdale

~

A view of the Japanese Garden

Modern Town Garden

Barnsdale

As I haven't any new art work that I can show you I thought I would post a few more pics of Barnsdale Gardens from Monday. The gardens were beautiful and, because the plants are not yet in their full growth, it was possible to see some things that would otherwise be covered by vegetation. (You can see my previous visit to Barnsdale here).

I think this sculpture may have been made from an old immersion tank.

This sculpture is one of several in this style in the gardens. In the background you can see ferns and gunneras which are only just beginning to get going this season.

These beautiful reflections are in a pond which is normally shrouded by Gunneras. The pond is also home to some lovely plump tadpoles.

I don't know what these plants are called but I liked the shadows that the spiky plants are throwing across the pads.

I took a chance with this photograph as I couldn't see what I was taking - I just pointed the camera up into the flower and Voila!

Bits and Bobs and ATCs

Monday saw us taking advantage of my DH's day off and heading down the A1 to Rutland Water, a large manmade reservoir about 20 miles from us. My friend had told me about the bluebell wood there at Barnsdale and we were not disappointed in the sight which awaited us when we get there. The wood has been thinned out and conifers removed to open up the woodland floor and allow the bluebells to flower once again. I find it amazing that it only takes the removal of the canopy to bring dormant life from the soil.

~

The bluebells were absolutely spectacular! I don't think that I have seen such an expanse of bluebells in a long time, and this in a wood that is completely open to public access. Years ago, many years ago, when I was a child, we used to go to Danbury Woods in Essex, and I have a very strong memory of walking through droves of bluebells and coming out with armfuls (not allowable now) of these gorgeous, delicate blooms for my Mum.

~

~

I have been conspicuous by my absence from my Yahoo groups lately so this month I thought I would try and pick up the threads (no pun intended!) with the lottery at MixedMediaATCs_UK. The ATC above is on the theme of Sea Life and is much more sparkly than my photo shows.

~

Earlier this year I blogged about the Cyberfyber Exhibition that Susan Lenz is staging in January next year. If you missed out on the chance to join in with the ATC and Postcard swap that Susan ran in January you now have another opportunity to become part of this event. Susan has made more ATCs and Postcards so click here and follow the links to join in.

~

What else can I tell you? I can't show you what I am working on at the moment as it will be part of a swap if I manage to complete it. Something I can show you, though you might wish I hadn't bothered, is this fetching photo of DH taken on Monday. He was lurking in a little shed-thing at Barnsdale Gardens - don't ask - I think it's supposed to be a sort of hide so you can watch the birds in the wooded area, or maybe it's for children.............