Flowering today

Flower Friday 01: Camellia

After rainfall
rays of sunlight sneak
past the dull grey clouds
brightening this small garden
where camellias now bloom


Sitting by the side of the pond, we have a potted camellia.  The buds have been gathering for a while, but today it bloomed.  It is another sign of Spring, and most welcome, even if the sky is dull and grey.

I went for a walk along the River Avon New Cut at lunchtime today.  Once upon a time the Avon flowed through what is now Bristol's floating harbour.  However, there is such a significant difference in the height of low and high tides that there was only a limited time during which ships could be loaded and unloaded.  The good merchants of Bristol decided to improve their port by creating an alternative route for the river (the New Cut) and to turn the harbour into what is effectively a large canal.  A floating harbour.

The New Cut is not terribly attractive, but I spotted my extra wading at the edge of the river today.  Having looked it up on the RSPB web site I believe that it is a Redshank, rather than the Common Sandpiper.  It was a great chance to go for some negative space, leading lines and subject isolation.  All that homework for the Year With My Camera course may be paying off!

Although it has only been a 4 day week at work, it seems to have been much, much longer.  Still it is now the weekend, and I have a blip meet in Gloucester to look forward to tomorrow....