Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Monday 26 October 2015

A Wood, a Painting and a Lane

I had a brief trip out with D the weekend before last looking for some autumn colour. We were planning to go to the Vale of Evesham but an unexpected family commitment in the afternoon meant we had to stay local so we went along to Hay Wood, near Baddesley Clinton.

Hedgerow trees along the route showed a lot of autumn colour but colours weren't so noticeable in the woodland itself. Light was very poor so apologies for the photos not being very sharp.







Seedheads



and a few plants still in flower.


I've made a few brief visits to this woodland in the past but one of these days I'll find time to have a longer walk there - I suspect it may be good for butterflies in Spring/Summer.


A few years ago I received a print of a painting of Conker Lane, near Bentley Heath for a present. The artist is Brian Tovey who has a gallery in Henley-in-Arden.



While we were in the area we stopped off at Conker Lane to take a few photos. I have a feeling that the artist painted the photo possibly some years ago as there is a lot of new housing in the area on each side of the lane and lamp-posts have been erected. Of course, the artist could just have decided to leave these features out! There again we didn't have time to walk along the Lane as far as we'd hoped so the painting could have come from an area further along the route.



14 comments:

Grosmontine said...

I think the best of this year's autumn colours will be a little late this year but nevertheless you have managed to find some nice colours here, especially those in the last few images :-)

Anonymous said...

We went looking for colour on Thursday and ended up in the Cotswolds, it was stunningly beautiful but I have no pictures of it all.

Ragged Robin said...

David Turner - Thanks David! There's a dual carriageway near us where the colours are really stunning but sadly there is nowhere to stop!

Toffeeapple - Thanks :) So pleased to hear you had a lovely day out full of autumn colour in the Cotswolds. A shame about the pictures but sometimes I think you can enjoy and take it in more when you aren't trying to take photos every second!

Amanda Peters said...

Looks like a nice place to visit, have missed having time to go out and enjoy Autumn, allot of leaves on the ground to day things are moving fast. The conker trees have been very poor at the park this year not brought one home ! might have just missed them.

Have packed the moth trap away for now, last try it just had two Apple moths in it, still would like to see some winter moths though.

Things have settled down a little , so hopefully more time to blog. Just as I'm back I see CT is having a little break too, she is not the only one I have come across, winter can be a funny time for bloggers.

Autumn watch starts next week, looking forward to that.
Amanda xx

SeagullSuzie said...

So lovely to see the Autumn colours near you. We have quite a few trees around Broadsands and I'd love to get out and photograph them, but time seems to be flying by-must be the time of year. A walk with the camera is well overdue, so thank you for reminding me how lovely it is outside.

Ragged Robin said...

Amanda Peters - Thanks Amanda. Glad to hear things are settling down for you a little - I'm sure it will take you time to catch up after such a busy time! I noticed about CT - I think from time to time we all find it hard to find the time to keep on blogging and feel in need of a break! It can be very time consuming - not just blogging yourself but trying to keep up with everyone else!

D bought home a handful of conkers from Conker Lane so there may well be some about unless others have been collecting them. I shall stop trapping soon when GMS finishes - had 1 Light Brown Apple moth on Sunday and last night when it was milder I had 2 Carpets (to be identified) another LBAM and a Large Yellow Underwing.

Looking forward to Autumn watch too - getting a bit fed up at the moment as not having time/chance to go out birding!

Millymollymandy said...

Same here with some lovely colour out in the open but not so much in woodland - or is that normal? Love that painting and such a great name - Conker Lane. Your photos look very nice to me so don't apologise! Our two conker trees were loaded this year and they are all over the lawn, anyone want any? :-)

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Having only recently made my first trip to STapleford Wood since I was a child, I hope soon to make more visits there to see what I might find.

Ragged Robin said...

SeagullSuzie - Thanks :) Hope you manage to get out soon with the camera and look forward to your photos! I don't seem to be getting out as much as usual here either - still up to eyes in it decluttering and redecorating :(

Millymollymandy - Thanks Mandy - suspect it may be normal? Will do some research!! We tried to find Conker Lane a year or so back and failed miserably although I discovered we were just yards from it! I think the area was once far more rural so much development over last 100 years :( My son would love some of your conkers - he bought home enough hope to fill a bowl!!

Simon Douglas Thompson - Thanks Simon - look forward to seeing what you discover in Stapleford Wood :)

Ragged Robin said...

Millymollymandy - Sorry forgot to mention this was the outing when son had problems with overbright colours with the Canon! Glad you liked the photos even with ISO on Olympus bumped up to 800 (and even 1600 at times) I was only getting shutter speeds of 1/20th :( Must be getting better at holding the camera steady :)

Deb said...

The wood and Conker lane looks a lovely place for a stroll. I love the print too. :-)

Ragged Robin said...

Deb - Thanks so much :) Glad you like the print - it hangs above the computer desk so I can look at it whenever I'm on the computer :)

Rohrerbot said...

I love this place. Mark as one of my favorites. What a great place to meander. Whenever I find a place that I love, I try to find something to remember it by. This is magic and art. The woods feels like it has presence.

Ragged Robin said...

Chris Rohrer - Thanks so much again Chris for your lovely comment. I really must go back perhaps in Spring and explore further - would be best to visit mid-week as it gets busy at weekends with dog walkers.