Oct 16 2011

Autumn Sunshine

After a week of nearly constant rain, the gruesome foursome took their normal Sunday morning walk. After a quick check out the window I donned a warm jacket only to shed it after 20 minutes in the warm sunshine.

The brothers grim 🙂 I know you check this Sam, and it would be remiss of me not to follow on from the Gorrillas in the mist dig from the last walk 🙂

Extra light hitting the forest floor now that leaf drop is well under way.

A Larch on the Autumn turn.

Peeking out over County Down.

Every time a walk past this cottage in the country, I want to move in! Wonder if the back garden is big enough for my bonsai collection 🙂

Sep 19 2011

Botanic Gardens Belfast

I entered a few trees in the Autumn Fair at Botanic Gardens in Belfast over the weekend. I had time to spare today and took a few snaps.

The main glasshouse.

Spotted this large Yew in the grounds. It has been chopped back recently and was back budding well on internal branches. Interesting to see the technique working on a full sized tree. Nice nebari too.

Haven’t a clue what this tree is, being in a botanical garden, it could be anything! Loved the bark and light through the branches.

The flower show itself was well turned out. Just love the riot of colour from all the Dahlias.

That’s the biggest leek I’ve ever taken 😉

Shows like this are struggling. This one got a last minute reprieve after losing it’s funding. It may not be the best way to display bonsai, in fact, it’s probably the worst way other than setting them on the ground, but it’s a good way of reaching the public with are art.

Sep 18 2011

Wet Walk

Stephen and I took a chance with the rain this morning and got a little wet but still had an enjoyable dander in the woods. The usual inspirational Beech trees on view.

We could hardly see Strangford Lough with the drizzle .

Just love walking under the tree canopy in the rain. Some lovely scenes.

We spotted this Birch that had grown for years on a slab of rock. I guess it over stretched itself and the weight of the canopy pulled it over. The glade is sheltered and wind paid no part.

Had to resort to a flash!

We did get a brief flash of Sun.

Nebari addict!!

Spotted this plant, not seen it before at Scrabo walk. Anybody know what it is? Has loads of little hooks to catch you as you walk past.

We did manage to get a real telling off from a grey squirrel! The most aggressive one I have ever seen.

Jun 27 2011

I’m on a Road to nowhere….

Love this sign from my walk yesterday. Not quite a road to nowhere, just a footpath to Bangor along the edge of Belfast Lough.

Here’s a few more from the walk.

Two trees, one canopy.

Oyster Catchers on the wing.

Spreading the wings to catch the rays.

My dog Smudge in Action!!

The Winter hasn’t had an impact on our native orchids, I’ve seem more this year than ever.

Jun 22 2011

Yew in Progression

Just looking through my blog reader and spotted this on Rodrigo’s Kintall blog. Its a fantastic series of photos showing the development of a yew. You don’t need to read Portugeuese to follow this one 🙂

Click Yew Progresson to view.

Jun 21 2011

Giant’s Causeway

Our final stop was at the Giant’s Causeway. This is probably the worst year to visit it. The centre is in the middle of a major rebuild and there is no parking on site. We had to get the Park and Ride from Bushmills.

It was starting to get cloudy and time was running out, but we still managed to get down onto the rocks. I even managed to get a few photos without the millions of tourists in them! A hard task. Top tip, most don’t walk right down onto the point where the rocks are stunning.

Can you spot the sleeping camel in the first photo?

Boy, would I like one of those stones to display a tree on!! No chance 😦

Jun 21 2011

Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

Our next stop along the coast was the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge. This is a National Trust location and as usual had lots of visitors. Some nice scenery as usual for the North Coast. It’s about a 1k walk to the bridge from the car park.

The rope bridge has also been a victim of the health and safety people. It used to be a scary experience when it was the temporary bridge erected by the fishermen every year to allow them to cross over to the island to fish. Now it’s child’s play.

My big sister at the front holding everyone else up 🙂 Still scary for her!

Jun 21 2011

Bushmills

We had lunch in Bushmills. The ‘Flash in the Pan’ chippy is worth a visit 🙂

Bushmills Distillery is the oldest in Ireland and I don’t care what anyone else says, It’s the best Whiskey in the World.

We had our chips at the side of the Bush River. It looks like a river of Guinness 🙂

Jun 21 2011

Kinbane Castle

Our first planned stop was Kinbane Castle, or what’s left of it, tucked away in a secluded spot on the North Coast. When the rest of the coast is buzzing with tourists, this place is always quite. We were the only car in the car park when we arrived. The Castle is hidden from view unless you actually do a bit of walking down some steep steps. It sits on a headland that is slowing falling into the sea. Some work has been done to preserve whats left of the castle. This is one of my favourite places.

Castle and headland.

View along coast from carpark.

Hoover fly basking in the morning sun along the path down to the headland.

Guardian stone at the entrance to the headland. Rathlin Island in background and Scotland in the mists beyond.

Castle ruins.

Sea Thrift on the beach.

It was great to see lots of wild orchids among the grass.

I was sorry to walk back up the path and leave it behind. Here’s my parting shot of the Castle and headland with Rathlin Island in the background.

On to the Rope Bridge and the Giants Causeway. 🙂

Jun 21 2011

Frosses Pines

I took some of my family, visiting from Australia, up to the North Coast yesterday. On my way I stopped briefly ay the Pine trees lining the Frosses Road near Ballymoney. I have always admired these pines leaning over the road creating an arch. Well, they used too until some were removed for safety reasons!!

Here’s a few pics of the pines.