A Morning Challenge in Heavitree

 

This morning person has no problem getting up, but finds it harder to get out the door. Today I was awake at 4.45, stressing about all the things I have to do and up at 5.20!I love the quiet hours around dawn, so yesterday partly because of the photo challenge, and partly because I was going east 125 miles to visit my daughter and family, I made special effort to walk the dogs early so I took them out at 7am, they were shocked!

Stepping into the front garden the sun bleached the colour from the pesky Spanish bluebells

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When I saw this photo I couldn’t think what shrub this was, then realised it’s Gilliae Shadownia plant!

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A view up from the path, spot the bindweed invading from next doors garden.

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Dido is trying to smell the camellia.

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Up around the block is a window I’ve always admired, in the shade this morning though. Discovery is a nursery.

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This tiny council border always has a little colour.

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if you look through the window of St Clares Chapel you can see the morning light on the window on the other side of the building.
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Here is St Clare’s, glowing in the morning light. It’s built from Heavitree stone, I think they still have a service here occasionally.
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These pods are left from autumn, anyone know what the tree is? Jude maybe?

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These are the Livery Dole Almshouses, next to St Clare’s, built by Lady Louisa Rolle in 1849, to replace earlier ones dating back to 1594. Livery Dole, from the old English Leofhere – the man who owned to land, and Dole meaning a piece of land, is a small triangle dividing Heavitree road from Magdalen road. Until 1531 heretics were burned at the stake at the junction nearby, hence the name lots of history here!
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This is a very difficult challenge for me, dawn is before 6am at present and I would need to drive a few miles to photograph anything interesting, so this is the best I could do, phone photos on a dog walk!

What’s a’Float?

Krista at the Daily Post has chosen the them of Afloat for this weeks photo challenge. I wanted to avoid the obvious, much as I love boats, so this is what I came up with.
First of all, on the beach last weekend Dido came close to being afloat and certainly looks as if she is!didoafloat
I think she was surprised at the speed of the waves coming in.
Maybe Scarlett is using her toy box as a boat, who knows what goes on in the mind of a toddler. scarlettafloat
And lastly, I took this photo of a local pub many years ago. At the time I used photoshop 7 and played with the Omni effect on this photo. I’ve always thought it makes the pub look like it’s floating in the canal.doublelockssphere copy
Do you agree?
If you would like to join in visit the daily post to see lots of entries.

The Challice Well Garden in Glastonbury

Surrounding one of the best known holy wells in Britain is the Challice Well garden, a tranquil place to soothe the soul.

Not often seen.
Not often seen.

On Good Friday my friend and I spent a peaceful couple of hours wandering there. Spring path

As far as plants are concerned I think I preferred my last visit which was in summer, but there was still plenty to see.

The garden is set on a gentle slope with Glastonbury Tor rising above, and as you walk upwards you eventually reach the well head. The waters have been know in the past as the Red Spring and the Blood Spring and legend tells that it represents the blood of Christ, springing from the ground when Joseph of Arimathea washed the cup used at the last supper. Others see the continuous spring of the life force.

The Lion's head
The Lion’s head

The Lion’s Head fountain is the only place where the water is safe to drink. Even so, just a few drops are recommended for healing, with the homeopathic approach. Even though I’ve tried it before, I still had a sip and it tastes very strongly of iron.


There are lots of little niches, some with seats, to quietly meditate.
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I hope this young man found peace.

The path to the meadow
The path to the meadow
The Holy Thorn
The Holy Thorn
Thorn buds
Thorn buds

Legend says tha Joseph of Arimathea visited Glastonbury with the Holy Grail and thrust his staff into Wearyall Hill, which then grew into the original thorn tree. The thorn is unusual because it flowers twice a year, at Christmas and again at Easter. Each year a sprig is sent to the Queen.
(source Wikipaedia)

The Vesica Pool

The Vesica Pool

The Vesica pool is shaped as a figure of eight, its seven bowls swirling down like a mountain stream.

A view up through the garden
A view up through the garden
Fritillary
Fritillary

Some bold colour outside of the shop.

The  garden is protected and maintained by the Challice Well Trust, set up by Wellesley Tudor-Pole is 1959 and is open daily throughout the year, should you wish to visit, it is 20 minutes walk from the centre of Glastonbury.

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My post is for Jo’s Monday Walk, if you click the link you will be able to join in and  find lots of interesting walks.

A Touch of Evening Blur

I’m really looking forward to summer evenings when I can go straight from work, to the coast for a stroll, a Pimms and a little supper. By then dark evenings like I’ve captured below will be a total blur in my mind. Meanwhile I hope these meet the challenge !

If you click the link you can join the weekly photo challenge of Blur.

My Last March Bench

green circle benchWooden benches have been the theme for Jude’s monthly challenge, this is my second entry, just in time. This one is situated along the mill leat path, part of the riverside country park in Exeter’s Green Circle. The Circle forms a green corridor to provide a haven for wildlife, and cycle and peaceful footpaths for everyone to enjoy. If you sit on this bench the leat runs through the wooded area behind you and in front there is a view of the stream that runs off to re-join the river Exe. Sometimes that’s a tiny trickle through mud!

It’s a nice walk with lots of ways out to make it as long or short as you feel like, this bench is often a turning point before heading back to the quay for a coffee, beer or ice cream.

There is still time if you have a wooden bench to share with Jude, or from April 1st the challenge is to photograph a bench with a view.