Photo Challenge – Page 176

Froggie went a-courtin’, and he did ride, mm-hmm

A lovely spring walk in the walled garden at Croft Castle this weekend brought me to the pond. I like the pond, but so does everyone else so you have to be patient and wait until almost closing time to have it to yourself.

The beech hedge is still brown, but the weeping willow is showing signs of new life and at last the bench is empty of people.

But look closer at the pond… and the curious ramp in the corner

and you will see there is life …and new life beginning.

As these frogs get fresh with one another.

I think we should leave them alone, don’t you?

Fresh shoots and leaves

The Pink and Burgundy Collection

Buds

Japanese Maple

Sambucus Nigra “Eva”

salix gracilisytyla ‘Melanostachys’

rose bush

Japanese Maple

Buds

Pieris

Spring Greens

Paeonia delavayii

corylopsis glabrescens ‘Longwood Chimes’

Light through new leaves

The time of year when suddenly the earth explodes into colour.

Bench series #12

For the month of March I’m looking for Wooden benches

waiting 2 — A wooden bench at the tram stop in Plainpalais, Geneva – but someone got there first.

If you would like to join in with the Bench photo challenge then please take a look at my Bench Series page. No complicated rules, just a bench and a camera required 🙂

Create your own post and title it Bench Series: March
Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
Add the tag ‘bench series’ so everyone can find the benches easily in the WP Reader
Get your post in by the end of the month, as the new bench theme comes out on the first Sunday in April

My Picks of the Week:

Another bench from Dawn, with a gorgeous barn in the background.
A bench with attitude from Sylvia
and Naomi joined us with a whole raft of benches (she is not the only one)
Lumar1298 brought some more carved benches to join in
Sherri joins us this month with wooden benches (in black and white) fulfilling two months in one!
El Rolyat takes me back to a place I once knew very well and Issy has a bit of bother getting her post done this month!
Meanwhile the troublesome restless one hits us with a whole bucket-load of benches – there is sure to be one you fancy 🙂

Raindrops on roses…

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Constance Finn

Orange Rose

OK, no kittens…

but plenty of raindrops on lilies

Lily

Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria)

and these are a few of my favourite things…

Today is the March equinox – the spring (vernal) equinox in the northern hemisphere when the length of the daylight hours equal the length of the night hours (well almost…) and is the beginning of spring according to astrological belief. This year it is also a date for a total solar eclipse and a super moon and the International Day of Happiness! Let the good times begin…

Benthall Hall

Situated on a plateau above the gorge of the River Severn, this fine stone house has mullioned and transomed windows, a stunning interior with carved oak staircase and decorated plaster ceilings and oak panelling. National Trust

Tall Chimneys

Pentagonal Bay Windows

Front

Decorative Carvings

It is always a good idea to look up at windows, you never know what you might see. Like the carved figure heads and hands.

DSCF4062 — The side view – from the beautiful terraced garden

And an interesting Dovecote with a window

There is also a little Restoration church

DSCF3987 — Restoration Church which includes an apiary

This monthly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge.