Catkins
Bent and naked tree
waiting for its summer gown
katkin petticoat
Come away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o
The UK has been caught inthe grips of storms for several weeks, with high winds, floods and coastal damage. Many people have lost their homes and businesses, train lines are closed and seemingly indestructible sea walls have been destroyed.
My little city is ten miles from the sea and mostly high enough to be safe from floods so other than getting soaked a few times I’m fine. I’m very lucky, the weather has only prevented trips out with my camera and meant that I had a nerve racking drive to Hampshire last week.
At the weekend, in a brief dry spell I walked the dogs in the cemetery and found a number of fallen trees. It surprised me how shallow conifer roots are, I hope they replace them soon.
This dear little tree is my favourite in the cemetery and I’m pleased that it’s survived with just one broken limb.
Don’t tell, but it’s a damson and no-one else seems to pick its bountiful fruit. Perhaps they’ll plant some more!
Spring is on it’s way!
Summer Days
Dreaming of Maytime
blue sky days and gentle breeze
flushed through with sunlight
I’ve followed We Drink Because We’re Poets for a while now, but I’ve never been brave enough to link to them. This time a post seemed to fit what I do so I’m giving it a go! You might like to joinin if you enjoy both photography and poetry. Visit http://wedrinkbecausewerepoets.com/2014/01/13/we-drink-inspiration-poetry-prompt-009-a-photos-worth/
Wintering Waders, A Haiku Trio
Resting weary wings
On Exe and Clyst confluence
Fresh and salty meet
~~~
Beware the buzzard
In the reserve of marshland
Safety in numbers
~~~
Wintering waders
Gather strength for long haul flight
Global migration
This post was inspired by a visit to Green Mackenzie. Although Seonaid focussed on the cold night, she made me think about writing some wintery haiku. I’m a long way south of Seonaid and winter has only just begun, so this photo was taken last January at Bowling Green Marsh, a nature reserve and resting place for migratory birds. You can click for a bigger view, I was too far away to get a clear shot, but I believe these are mostly Dunlin, Godwit and Oystercatchers. The estuary is known for its Avocets, the symbol of the RSPB.
If you don’t know Seonaid, I know you’ll find peace and inspiration here.
http://breathofgreenair.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/one-light/
Today began with horrid fog so I was happy that the sun came out in time for my lunchtime walk. I decided to go out of the back gate from work, and across the road to where a childrens play area leads to a very peaceful area of houses. I rarely see a soul there, but there are lovely avenues of trees and a couple of very big, old ones that have been kept thank goodness. This time I noticed a gap between two houses that I’d never seen before, so I crossed and went through. It led to a curved footpath with trees either side, so I walked the hundred metres or so until it opened up to a grassy area with more houses across the other side. Then I remembered Chittle Chattle’s hundred steps walks, I haven’t done one for a while, so I turned back the way I came and counted my hundred. This is what my phone and I saw.
Do you have a lunchtime stroll? If you do then next time take your phone out, snap and count as you do, you’ll be surprised what you notice.
And as I’m a lazy poet on Thursdays – and every other day, it’s two in one!
Fern
Shelter in its shade
ancient and mysterious
grand Dicksonia.
Micro Climate
Dark pinnated fronds
pride of Devon’s gardeners
make yourselves at home.
This is day four of the Daily Post’s challenge but there’s still time,
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/