Winter Light

         There is something very special about the light at this time of the year. The sun, when it shines, never gets very high in the sky and without leaves on the trees, its rays hit at an angle and highlight tree trunks and ground flora. Our Redwoods are at their best and truly live up to their name at this time of the year. Since owning the wood we have planted around a dozen. They like it in Crow Wood and grow well, gradually catching up with our 100+ year old Big Red. Native to the west coast of North America where the Pacific winds bring them most air, they have adapted well to our climate and seem to thrive.

         It has been a mild winter so far with plenty of wet days which is helping to top up the moisture in the ground after the hot and very dry Summer. The pond between our wood and a neighbour's has filled up again and our rain water butts are all full to overflowing. This year is a very good one for berries and the hollies are covered in them. Most winters the arrival of Redwings and Fieldfares means the end of the berries and we have to get in quick to be able to cut some for our Christmas display. This year however there are very few of these Winter thrushes and very few berries have been eaten. Perhaps colder conditions will drive them South, I do hope so. A white Christmas looks unlikely this year but a spell of really cold weather with heavy frosts will be welcomed by me and, I suspect, by Crow Wood.

         Have a Happy Christmas and thank you for following my occasional blog.

Our Redwood grove

Slanting afternoon light hitting the trunk

This is Big Red, we think planted over 100 years ago

Holly berries aplenty

This Redwood shows clear signs of deer activity around the base.

standing water after all the rain

A splash of colour - Gorse in flower, people say it flowers in every month