Unusual Things You Find Inside a Garden

Ailsa of “Where’s My Backpack?” has been pondering her visits to gardens around the world this week. If you would like to join in with her challenge then please do. Everyone is welcome.

And I am combining this with the Weekly Photo Challenge from WordPress: Inside.

As some of you will know I do have another blog which is specifically for flowers – Earth Laughs in Flowers – and if you click this link you will be able to read about some of the gardens I have been enchanted by and see some lovely flowers and plants.

But for this challenge I am going to show you some of the odd sculptures and statues that have caught my eye whilst wandering inside the gardens, beginning with the infamous Eden Project in Cornwall.

(click on an image to enlarge)

The Bee
The Bee
The Rites of Dionysus by Tim Shaw
The Rites of Dionysus by Tim Shaw
WEEE Man, Outdoor Biome
WEEE Man, Outdoor Biome
spider
Incy Wincy spider…or is it a crab?

Next is a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Welsh Black by Sally Matthews
‘Tawr’ A Welsh Black by Sally Matthews
'Pi' by Rawleigh Clay
‘Pi’ by Rawleigh Clay
Circle of Decision
Circle of Decision

And finally a few sculptures that have appeared in my favourite garden, RHS Wisley in Surrey.

Doves
Doves
Henry Moore's Arch
Henry Moore’s Arch
Wicker 'Pear'
Wicker ‘Pear’
Wicker Sculptures
Wicker Sculptures

What unusual things have you found in a garden?

A Lingering Look at The Round Market

This weekly 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.

When visiting Tenbury (Wells) we grabbed a Tenbury Heritage Trail map from the tourist office and set off to admire the buildings from Tenbury’s past.  After looking around the Pump Rooms (last week’s post) we carried on into Market Street, which leads into Market Square and where we discovered another unusual building that was also built by James Cranston.

The Round Market

The Round Market (which is actually oval) was built to enable the farmers’ wives to sell their butter and poultry inside, with walls to keep out the wind and rain. Market Days are still held on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

But as usual I was drawn to the wonderful windows – just look at the shapes above the gateway! And the trefoils and quatrefoils at the top of each window (click image to enlarge). Divine.

(source of information from Tenbury Tourist Information Centre )

Nature in Black and White

Cee’s Black & White Challenge: This black and white challenge is topic related and this week the theme is Found in Nature.

One of the most amazing places that I have been to is Yosemite Valley. The incomparable scenery, soaring cliffs, spectacular views and cascading waterfalls moved me so much that I wrote this piece about my feelings.

(click any image to enlarge and see the details)

2. valley-view
Valley View. 

Here are a few photos from that natural wonder. I hope they make as much an impression on you as they did on me.

awiyah-point
awiyah-point
River Merced in the Snow
River Merced in the Snow
Mount Watkins Reflection at Mirror Lake
Mount Watkins Reflection at Mirror Lake
The Swinging Bridge in Snow
The Swinging Bridge in Snow

J for Jawab

frizztext hosts a weekly A – Z Challenge

A_Z logo

Event Type: General Blogging

Start Date: Tuesdays, recurring weekly

Description: Every Tuesday I offer the “A to Z challenge”, walking step by step through the alphabet.

If you would like to join in then please click here

The Taj Mahal, still one of the Seven Wonders of the World, attracts millions of visitors each year.  The traditional southern view of the white domed mausoleum doesn’t always demonstrate the sheer scale of the building, nor take into affect the remainder of the integrated structures on the complex and its harmonious proportions.

Jawab - facing west
Jawab – facing west

At the far end of the complex, there are two grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb. These identical buildings flank the main tomb effectively and help to present the white marble monument in an aesthetic setting and form an integral part of the Taj design.

At the western side is the mosque (masjid) facing east, reported to have been built by Isa Muhammed 1631-1648. More about this when we reach M. On the eastern side is the Jawab (literally “answer”; a building mirroring the mosque) and providing aesthetic balance to the site. At the time of my visit the Jawab was covered in scaffolding, so I wasn’t able to go inside.

Jawab
Jawab

One of the most beautiful structural compositions in the world, the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective

This week’s photo challenge is about perspective: post a photo which is not what it seems to be.

For those who are looking for an extra bit of challenge, show us two photos, each one showing a different angle or interpretation of the same subject:

Well I am always photographing the same subject at different angles, especially with flowers, where the shape or texture changes.

perspective
Thistle flower from above – spherical and smooth
Thistle flower from the side
Thistle flower from the side – oval and spiky
sunflower macro
Sunflower – a bee’s perspective
Sunflower head
Sunflower – the human perspective

and often with architectural details where distortion is inevitable

Incised Geometric Painting
Looking up – Incised Geometric Painting inside the Main Gate (Taj Mahal)
The Main Gate
The Main Gate from a distance

or unusual

What do you see?
What do you see?
Old advert on a building
Street Art – white paint on top of an advertisement

If you would like to see what others have come up with for this challenge then go to the Daily Post @ WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge