The light in the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens yesterday was perfect. The birch trunks glowed. They look pretty good close up too!
It was a good day for birds in the Botanics too - we saw great tits, blue tits, robins and chaffinches all coming close for the sunflower seeds we were scattering. I had a great tit feeding from my hand! The squirrels gathered round too and when the pigeons started flying in there was trouble with one squirrel repeatedly hitting the pigeons on their heads! The long tailed tits kept sensibly out of the way, flitting around, whispering to themselves. At the pond near the Chinese Gardens we saw several mallards, a heron and two moorhens - their red beaks glowing in the low sun. On the other pond there were several mallards, the males fighting and splashing enthusiastically. Almost a feeling of spring in the air despite the cold...
The Snowdrop Festival is starting tomorrow at the Botanics, see here for more details....
I love birch trees most of all, I think. In winter I miss their chatter.
ReplyDeleteI also have a fondness for the delicate birch. My ideal garden would have birch for their grace and the small birds they attract; an ornamental rowan to bring waxwings to me (still haven't seen anyway!); hawthorn for redwing and a conifer or two for the goldcrest.
ReplyDeleteI think that means I need a pretty big garden!
Birch tree are delicious always and the ones you captured gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHello Crafty~ Sounds like someone had a great day at the Botanical Gardens. I bet it was a sight to see the squirrels hitting the pigeons on the head. I long for Spring to arrive, to see the trees in full bloom again and hear all the birds singing their beautiful songs. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteIs this a weeping birch Juliet? Ours are quite different - no draping branches - white birch I believe they're called. I just saw the other day the snowdrops are coming up!
ReplyDeletewhat a magical day!
ReplyDeletethanks for the kind words about my son.
xo
Lovely photos,
ReplyDeleteTrees and birds are my interests too..
Birch trees are too evocative..love them :)
wishes,
devika
I love the details that you notice, and things that end up in your pics...like the birch bark.
ReplyDeleteYou have a poetic eye for life!!
I had the good fortune to visit the Botanical Gardens once several years ago. It was gorgeous--a truly restful and inspiring place in the city.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing more teasing than a "feeling of spring"--we had that in Boston yesterday, and today it's snowing yet again!
Oh... I envy you Juliet! I wish the roadworks were finished - that puts me off going at the moment. Great to see images and hear of your day there :-D
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely. I admire the birch, too, and luckily have a European birth in my front yard -- looks quite like your photo. Weepy with twigs.
ReplyDeleteAnd birds. Oh. yes.
I've enjoyed your haiku and animals, too. A treat today.