x5 images. Double click to enlarge. Lifting a piece of bark in a garden border, the last thing I expected to find was a delightful Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). It remained where it was, frozen to the spot. I hadn’t got my camera, so I gently placed the bark back and went into the house to… Read More What Lies Under A Piece of Bark
Last of the perennial geraniums after rain with gentle autumn sunlight.
Salvia rosmarinus – I have always grown Rosemary in the garden. It is a member of the mint family, the Lamiaceae, which also includes nettles. Apart from its distinct aroma when the leaves are crushed, and its taste when used in cooking as a herb, it also makes a lovely evergreen woody shrub which has… Read More Rosemary
Kerria japonica – These flowers are from a deciduous shrub which was already growing in my garden from the day I moved here almost 30 years ago. It goes by different names, but there are no thorns on this rose. It never fails to display these small, bright yellow pom pom flowers. © Peter Hillman… Read More Japanese Rose
Another one from last autumn. I love how the colour of the flowers of Hydrangeas change with the seasons. Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera used: Nikon D7200 Date taken: 12th October 2019 Place: Rear garden, Staffordshire
This is a hardy Geranium after rain, one of the few remaining flowers left in the garden as autumn deepens. The flower is so delicate and refined with those shimmering raindrops it is like it is made from the finest glass. This can be quite tricky to photograph. Besides the lighting conditions, it all depends… Read More Like Ornamental Glass
As you know I like to get close to things, and I chose a Petunia which has been growing in one of my containers on the patio for this one. I was so attracted to its deep rich colours and the intricate veins spreading through the petals like ink stains on blotting paper. Rear garden.… Read More Looking Differently
Rear garden. September 2019 © Pete Hillman.
This Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) are still flowering as others fade. Rear garden. September 2019 © Pete Hillman.
… and the blossoms bow down to autumn … Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), rear garden. September 2019 © Pete Hillman.
Out of the glare of the sun you can see more details in the most delicate of blossoms. I isolated this fuschia bloom in a shady corner of the garden once the sun had moved around. © Pete Hillman August 2019.
I have noticed how big the young frogs are now growing in the garden pond. I spied four of them amongst the Water Mint and pond weed poking their heads out the water. Feel free to click the images to enlarge and click again to get even closer … © Pete Hillman August 2019
June 2019, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer … June 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer … Hardy geranium. June 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer … Hardy geranium. June 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Spring begins with Snowdrops. February 2019, front garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
The garden bird feeder is quite busy at the moment. These Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus are certainly taking advantage of it and they are welcome too. May 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
This is one of the best years for peonies I have known here. I do love the rain so long it doesn’t pour endlessly, and this morning it was but a brief spell. I love the freshness and invigoration it brings to the garden, so I couldn’t resist popping out with my camera when the… Read More A Drenched Beauty
Autmum fell to winter, and winter flew and we are already enjoying a wonderful spring here on this side of the pond. Finally I made it back after a fairly long hiatus, and I will look forward to catching up with you all! This is one of my favourites which seemingly appeared out of nowhere… Read More Catching The Sun
I have three Lavender bushes in my small garden, and the bees and butterflies really enjoy visiting them. Next year I may consider planting a lavender hedge, if I can make room for one. This butterfly with the twin spots is called the Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus). Click once to expand view, click again to get… Read More Butterflies And Lavender
Last night was a very hot and close one, so sleep was quite restless. So up early to find this Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) flower catching the first rays of sunlight. Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer June 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Now if this plant grows feet and start walking about the garden I will be worried. There has been no meteor showers of late, has there? Although it does look like it is about to ballet dance around the flowerbed to me. Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer… Read More Opening Mid-summer II
Every few years (actually quite a few numbers of years can pass) and one of these beautiful Opium Poppies (Papaver somniferum) will just appear out of nowhere in my back garden. This one is quite a monster in size and has many heads like the mythical Hydra. Click once to expand view, click again to… Read More Opening Mid-summer
Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) – on hardy geranium. Rear garden, June 2018. Nikon D7200 © Peter Hillman.
Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer June 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
By pure coincidence as I was photographing the garden pond for the previous blog to my joy I had this delightful little visitor alight on the Yellow Flag Iris. It is called the Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, and I had to do quite the balancing act, getting my socks wet more than once, to get… Read More Let’s Have Some Marmalade!
As requested by my blogging friend Vicki (who has a lovely blog called ‘Living With nature’), here are some pics of the garden pond as it has grown and established itself over the past two years. No sun today so very grey and overcast when I took these photos. It’s only very small, but it… Read More Garden Pond After 2 Years
Bellflower Campanula rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman Sigma 18-300mm with Sigma AML72-01 achromatic macro lens.
After 3 years since I built my small garden pond and planted this Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus it has flowered for the very first time to my joy. This is the first bloom, and it looks like there are many more to come. Click once to expand view, click again to get that little… Read More Finally, After 3 Years …
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum). This was taken in the shade as the sun had moved around the garden this late afternoon. Trying out my new Sigma 18-300mm DC macro lens for the first time, and seeing what it can do. Will need to practice more to get the hang of it. May 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire,… Read More Snow-in-summer
Taken with the Nikon 70-300mm. Bluebells, May 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
Coming home from work this afternoon I spotted this single Pencilled Cranes-bill Geranium versicolor, the first of the season, and just had to takes its picture. May 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
April 2018, front garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
Blue is the main hue in my garden now as many of these delightful Grape Hyacinths burst into life in the borders. One of my favourite spring garden flowers. Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacum, April 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
My neighbour has a large cherry tree and one or two Starlings have been perched in it of late in the high branches. They make the most varied and curious bird song I have ever heard, which is quite fascinating. Starling Sturnus vulgaris, April 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris, April 2018, rear garden pond, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
April 2018, Anemone, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
April 2018, Anemone, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
February 2018, Snowdrops, front garden, Staffordshire, England.
