After the explosion of colour we experienced in the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley, there’s a mixed bag of photographs this week.
The garden has taken a real beating recently. A leaning fence flaps like a bird when the wind blows and the ground resembled a giant puddle up until a couple of days ago. Quite a relief the willow tree in the garden is no longer there – beautiful as it was.
It feels too early but buds are beginning to appear and flowers are starting to bloom. Rosy red apples remain in a 
nearby tree. The birds are happily chirping away – even at night-time.
These signs of life coupled with the occasional bout of sunshine are a fabulous reminder of last Summer.
Having fun with our toddler in the garden, even it if meant chasing after her with a blob of Factor 50 in your palm, enjoying alfresco dining and taking lots of photographs.
We saw a glimmer of those heady days when we visited friends in Sussex recently. It was chilly when we 
ventured out for a walk but the sky was blue and the sun shining. It is the best feeling when fresh country air hit your lungs!
After navigating our way through muddy woodland, we crossed open fields scattered with frosty leaves. Then whilst walking down a lane we saw a butterfly basking in the sunshine. A strange yet welcoming sight for January. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Spring was on its way?
Linking up with Mammasaurus for How Does Your Garden Grow?
69 comments
Claudia January 9, 2014 12:27 pm
what beautiful photos. as usual. but i am a big fan of the frosted brown leaves. lovely. xx
Charly Dove January 9, 2014 1:13 pm
Thank you Claudia – it’s a real mixed bag this week
The Reading Residence January 9, 2014 12:30 pm
Beautiful photos, as always. That butterfly shot is fabulous, and it’d be nice to think spring’s just around the corner x
Charly Dove January 9, 2014 1:14 pm
Thank you Jocelyn. So strange to see a butterfly at this time of the year isn’t it. Would be great if Spring was around the corner
Mum of One January 9, 2014 12:45 pm
Gorgeous shots! I think there is almost something quite haunting about frosted leaves.
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:28 am
Thank you – you’re probably right there
natalie January 9, 2014 2:03 pm
beautiful photos and a lovely blog.
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:29 am
Thank you very much Natalie
Mammasaurus January 9, 2014 2:18 pm
I love how the rosy apples match PODs wellies! That butterfly is great – what an optimistic thing to see – roll on the sunshine I say.
Much love for frosty leaves at the moment too – it just goes to show that the simplest things like a leaf can look just as pretty as an show-winning rose!
Thanks for joining in again and sharing – I know it’s not easy at the moment with all the rain! x
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:29 am
Pleasure to join – thank you for hosting. It’s so nice have a bit of sunshine and frost, give me that over rain any day
Aly January 9, 2014 2:29 pm
Butterflies already??? Wow, I still want the snow to come
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:30 am
I’m sure if it gets colder that snow will come. Nice seeing butterflies though
Mums do travel January 9, 2014 2:36 pm
That’s a brave butterfly. I didn’t know they could survive in cool temperatures.
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:37 am
It was a strange sight it has to be said!
Iona@redpeffer January 9, 2014 2:50 pm
I do love that butterfly shot, our garden resembles a quagmire at present-not terribly photogrpenic!
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:48 am
Thank you. Know what you mean about the garden, it’s not looking its best although nice to see some sunshine today
bluebirdsunshine January 9, 2014 3:07 pm
Beautiful photos, and so lovely to see the butterfly. Feels as if there’s nothing living in my garden at the minute! Roll on spring!
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:49 am
Thank you very much. I know what you mean about the garden, I was amazed to find some buds!
Sara (@mumturnedmom) January 9, 2014 3:30 pm
It’s so lovely to see even a tiny splash of colour, our garden just looks dirty at the moment! It really is amazing to have caught that butterfly. Loving the frosty leaves
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:51 am
It really is lovely to see some colour, even just a little bit! I was amazed to see that butterfly. Incredible sight. I always imagine your garden all snowy with the sky bright blue
charmaine January 9, 2014 3:58 pm
lovely photos and great to see some signs of Spring ahead… though I do wish it would hurry up a bit, I’m freezing! x
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:52 am
How lovely would that be – come on Spring!
Hellie's Corner January 9, 2014 4:46 pm
Lovely photo’s and so nice to see a dry day instead of all the rain.
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:53 am
Thank you very much – makes such a difference when the sun comes out
Kirsty January 9, 2014 6:37 pm
It is so mild at the moment but the torrential downpours are making getting out in the garden pretty impossible here too x
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:53 am
The weather’s been horrid hasn’t it. So hope it calms down soon. We have sunshine today though
Lori January 9, 2014 6:41 pm
Lovely photo’s especially the pop of colour. I wish we had a garden to join in, but alas we just have lots of cacti
x
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:54 am
Ooh cacti are lovely, I’ve seen some rather great ones recently. Thanks for popping by
Keri-Anne January 9, 2014 6:51 pm
We walk through a wood on the way to and from school everyday and have noticed flowers blooming and buds appearing already! I am so afraid that we will have snow and they will all freeze! x
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:55 am
I do worry that will happen too Keri-Anne, will be so sad. Sounds like you have a wonderful walk to and from school
Janie January 9, 2014 7:04 pm
I’m saw snowdrops yesterday, things are changing. Beautiful photographs, I particularly like the berries, & wonderfully evocative description.
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:55 am
Thank you Janie – amazing seeing snowdrops already. Again it still seems so early
anna m January 9, 2014 7:17 pm
would indeed be very lovely if spring was on it’s way – I can’t wait to be honest!
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:56 am
Me neither – I do hope it comes soon
Fritha Strickland January 9, 2014 7:37 pm
these are lovely! great shot of the butterfly too! x
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:56 am
Thank you Fritha
Cass@frugalfamily January 9, 2014 7:42 pm
Such lovely photos x x
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:56 am
Thank you Cass
Dragonsfypoppy January 9, 2014 8:47 pm
I adore the photographs. How amazing to see a butterfly basking like that! xx
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:57 am
Incredible isn’t it – couldn’t believe it. Thank you
Emma January 9, 2014 8:53 pm
What wonderful photos! When we lived in Denmark, we arrived in time for the longest winter in 50 years. When the snow finally left in the April, I remember spotting a similar butterfly and it was such a wonderful uplifting sight!
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:57 am
Gosh that must have been amazing after all that cold. I bet you had the biggest smile
Shell Louise January 9, 2014 9:00 pm
I’m really looking forward to spring: I’m itching to get some seeds planted! Love the butterfly
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:58 am
Thank you – will be lovely if it could come that little bit earlier wouldn’t it
Kara January 9, 2014 9:01 pm
butterfly this time of year…..I guess it has been mild! Stunning photographs!
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:58 am
Thank you Kara – such a wonderful sight to see a butterfly
Amanda January 9, 2014 9:15 pm
Gorgeous photos!! We have a rose trying to bloom in our garden, how mad is that? It’s so mild the plants seem to be really confused.
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 8:59 am
Thank you very much. How weird you have a rose coming, all the plants seem to think it’s Spring!
Jenny January 9, 2014 10:42 pm
I’m really looking forward to getting out this weekend as there’s no rain forecast for once. Beautiful photographs.
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 9:00 am
Thank you Jenny. Let’s hope its lovely and clear this weekend
Jenni January 9, 2014 10:59 pm
I always love how frost looks on leaves, great pic!
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 9:00 am
Thank you Jenni
Katie January 9, 2014 11:07 pm
Is that your Christmas tree that is down by Pod? It looks huge. And what happened to the Willow, man or nature? Will have to go back and see if I missed something!
Charly Dove January 10, 2014 9:01 am
I wish it was our tree Katie. We were at friends and one of their trees had come down. The willow went a year or so ago now. Very sad to see it go but it was causing subsidence so it had to!
Sam @happyhomebird January 10, 2014 9:52 am
Such beautiful words and photographs. I am longing for some frost to take some piccies. Sam
Charly Dove January 11, 2014 12:49 am
Thank you Sam – same here! This was the only day I’ve been able to photograph it
Helen Sims The good life mum January 10, 2014 10:57 am
wonderful frosty leaves i bet you had a little hunt to find one so lovely as that
Charly Dove January 11, 2014 12:52 am
Funny you should say that Helen, it was the only time I’d seen frost. I did what the perfect leaf but what that is I have no idea!
Kathleen January 10, 2014 12:36 pm
What wonderful thoughts! I wish we had some buds or signs of spring but no instead it is a lot of rain and cold weather. Beautiful photos!
Charly Dove January 11, 2014 12:53 am
It’s funny I didn’t think we had anything until I went on a wander. We were lucky being at friends when the sun shone. Hoping that comes back soon
Actually Mummy... January 10, 2014 1:55 pm
Amazing that you managed to find so much colour in such wet weather – just goes to show there is sun there if you catch it at the right moment!
Charly Dove January 11, 2014 12:54 am
You’d laugh if you saw us – darting outdoors as soon as the weather improves! I’m like a human jack in a box at the moment
Emily @amummytoo January 10, 2014 3:37 pm
Beautiful, beautiful pics. The second one is my favourite – perfect!
Charly Dove January 11, 2014 12:54 am
Thank you Emily, really kind of you
liska January 10, 2014 10:18 pm
Isn’t nature beautiful? As is your photography x
Charly Dove January 11, 2014 12:55 am
Thank you very much Liska
Notmyyearoff January 11, 2014 2:02 am
So many beautiful colours even at this time of year! Lovely photos x
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older mum in a muddle January 12, 2014 10:53 am
Gorgeous photos….. you can get such intersting shots in the winter. Our fence blew down in the window too. There is now a gaping hole between ours and our neighbour’s garden. X