The "Octopus" Tree and the "Constable" Tree

 

As promised a few photos from last year of the "Octopus" Tree and the "Constable" Tree  in Herefordshire. The former is located on the site not far from the caravan whereas the Constable Tree and the Herefordshire Oak (seen in the last post) are in fields nearby but viewable from the caravan.

Octopus Tree

I first decided to take photos of this Ash tree in April and its shape really reminded me of an octopus hence its name!

26th April 2024

As the leaves appeared I have to admit it looked far less like an octopus!

20th May

3rd June

7th July

20th July

7th August

Mid September

Late October

End November/Beginning of December

It finally looks more like an octopus (well at least to me!) again.

Late December

The Constable Tree

It wasn't until May that I first started to take photos of this lovely tree. I called it the Constable Tree because the landscape around it reminded me of a scene in a Constable painting.  I am not sure of the species as its some way away but if anyone has any suggestions on what species it might be please leave a comment.

20th May

15th  June

23rd June

7th July

20th July

 August

28th August

Mid September

Late October

Late November/Beginning of December

The leaves on all the trees seemed to disappear within the space of the month of October when I don't think we visited for a while but we had had several gales.

Late December

Paintings

As promised photos of the paintings B has bought me from an art gallery in Leominster.

This is the one I picked for my Christmas present last year as I love hares and something about the scene reminded me of the caravan site.  I am not sure yet whether to hang it  at  home or  take it to the caravan.

I've posted a photo of this painting before as some of you may remember.  I chose this for my 70th birthday present from B from the same gallery as it reminds me so much of a view from a country lane. The painting is by an artist called Cassandra Clarke who opened "Art 24" having relocated from Stourport. I did hope to buy another Cassandra Clarke painting last Christmas but there didn't seem to be many on sale this time.

Last December I also spotted some paintings of Herefordshire countryside scenes which I nearly chose instead of the hare.  So perhaps that is my Christmas and Birthday presents sorted for much later this year! If the paintings are still there of course!

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one or one of my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks so much).

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.