Field Maple Field Day

I watched the funeral of Pope Francis as it was an historic occasion. The music was sublime. I loved the simplicity of his coffin with its perfect chunky dovetails. The two conclaves of cardinals photographed from above reminded me of the two wide red rectangular steps from the lean-to to the kitchen in the family home when I was a child. We used to polish them with Cardinal Polish. I didn't know at the time what a cardinal was. I thought the name might be something to do with my friend over the road whose name was Cardnell.

I loved the shot of the bird on the cross on top of the Vatican Obelisk. As a child St Francis was to me associated with birds and animals. I'm surprised that the Pope, who took his name, did not make much of this association. I read that two captive bred white doves which he released in 2014 were attacked by a yellow-legged gull and a hooded crow.

I've never been to Rome but the city looked wonderful in the April sunshine. Amazing to see the Popemobile carrying the coffin pass the Colosseum in the shade of those iconic umbrella pines. A photographic starburst occurred on the approach to Santa Maria Maggiore. I hope that attending and meeting at the funeral of the peace-loving Pope will help world leaders work towards peace. 

I've been looking out for the fairy longhorn moths. They were lekking today near the top of the field maples, too high for decent shots. :( Quite a few insects/bugs visited the field maples this afternoon.