Fritillaria meleagris.
. . I hope I’m not boring you too much with my Snake’s Head Fritillaries but I feel we have to appreciate them now, before they are gone for another year. Apparently they’ve been in Europe since 1571 which is perhaps long enough for them to look as though they belong here, however when I look at these I always think that they are somehow too unconventional for these parts. Try as I might, I really can’t imagine them growing outside of a fish and chip shop, no, these I think belong in a more bohemian sort of place. . . . . #myslowandsimple #dreaminginpictures #mystoryoflight #botanicaldreamers #allthingsbotanical

White Snakes Head Fritillary.
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. Nodding away in our first ‘Spring area’ of the garden is this solitary White Snakes Head Fritillary, set amongst the usual pink/purple checkerboard types it quite stands out, which I love. I think it likes being the only one here, you can sort of tell by the way it nods knowingly in the breeze. This is a bulb that I seriously wouldn’t want to be without, I hope you can see why. Plus to make sure the white variety continues I planted several more in the newer ‘Spring area’ a couple of years ago, but they are yet to open this year and I couldn’t wait any longer to shoot this. It just goes to show what effect a small distance apart has in the garden, I will snap the others when they kindly decide it’s the right time. The Fritillary is related to the lily family so I have to watch out for attacks from the dreaded scarlet lily beetle every year, good job they are scarlet at least it’s easy to spot them. It’s always lets say interesting when trying to pick off the lily beetle as many gardeners will already know, I’m getting familiar with their crafty way of dropping off the fritillaries just when they think you are after them, but then astonishingly they actually play dead in an upturned position on the ground making it really difficult to spot them. Which begs the question really… just how do they know to do that? Stay safe and here’s wishing you a happy Fritillary Friday!🌿😊 . . . . .
. . #myslowandsimple #dreaminginpictures #mystoryoflight #botanicaldreamers #allthingsbotanical

Moods. . . I’m not sure that I’ve been in just the right mood recently for creating garden images, I wonder if others feel the same? Yesterday I decided to shake that off and get out there and give it a go again. Actually I was so glad that I had as I realised how much I actually enjoy simply looking through the lens and finding new perspectives, funny how that happens, for me it’s like going into another world that’s somehow much more interesting than the real one. I like a bit of moody imagery now and then too, so here’s something of a Red Camellia from yesterday’s efforts in my garden. I have to tell you that there is some history with this particular camellia, It’s been given a reprieve on more than one occasion and as a result it’s been moved around a fair bit. It’s probably now in totally the wrong place, but what can you do when it goes and produces the most beautiful red flowers like this. 
Keen observers may spot the tiny Arachnid doing a bit of photo bombing🕷☺️ . . . .#thatwinterspringthing #smallmomentsofcalm #seekthesimplicity #haveinspiration #aseasonalyear #mystoryoflight #tostandandstare #aquietstyle #heitermoments #storiesoftheeveryday #the_gentle_manifesto #slowsimpleseasonal #inspiredbynature #liveauthentic #theslowdowncollective #aseasonalshift #ofsimplethings #momentsofmine #botanicaldreamers #allthingsbotanical #thebotanicalseries

A little too early. . . I always worry about this Acer as it unfurls at this time of year, doesn’t it realise it’s too early with frosts around? 
Despite my worrying it seems to do ok, but there is little doubt that I’m going to continue to worry anyhow. . . . #myslowandsimple #dreaminginpictures #mystoryoflight

A little white woodland Anemone. . . These were planted in a woodland area of the garden over two and a half years ago and we are only just really seeing the results, last year being almost a no show. 
But I think now that it was worth the wait. . . . . #myslowandsimple #dreaminginpictures #mystoryoflight

Garden sanctuary. . . In these very worrying times I’m thankful for being able to retreat to my garden which is also my sanctuary, to be escaping the world for a moment at least. It’s a place where I can be busy, or just gather my thoughts or simply find time to appreciate nature, like this beautiful white flowering Camellia which has flowered each spring for the past 10 years or more. . . . #myslowandsimple #dreaminginpictures #thatwinterspringthing