slightly older Goslings

Missy decides to help( or hinder) in the garden 

Blackwater Arboretum

It was a beautiful evening tonight and after an early meal we decided to go for a ride and walk in the forest. There is a small arboretum in the forest and it is usually very quiet in the evening so it is OK to take the dogs.
We had a pleasant drive across the forest seeing several foals on the way. We were the only car in the carpark at the arboretum so we had a very peaceful stroll.The air was perfumed with the scent of the yellow azaelea that was flowering (R.concatenans) As we drove home from the Arboretum we watched the sun slowly setting.

We were lucky to see the little Shetland Pony foal by the side of the road. There are only a few shetland ponies in the forest and the foal was so cute. I had seen it a couple of days ago when I did not have the camera. I just managed a photo before the batteries went in the camera!!

The gates to Blackwater arboretum 

A Rhodedendrum bud 

Colour in the arboretum 

last rays of sunlight 

White Rhodedendrum 

As we drove home we saw this cute little shetland foal 

Beautiful sky as the sun sets 

The sun sets on the forest 

Sit Stays! Raffles and Missy earn their treats. 

Todays foal was seen at Busketts 

Missy and Raffles in the heather at Black Gutter 

Dora watches as Missy enjoys her freedom at slufters pond. 

The first rose of summer 

Looking towards Fritham bridge 

By the stream. There were bluebells all around but I never seem to be able to get them to stand out in photos. However we enjoyed their perfume. 

Today we walked in the woods at Fritham, The cuckoo was calling and everything looked fresh and green. 

Bluebells in the woods near High Corner 

I love the smell of Bluebells,but I always find it difficult to get the blue in a photograph

May Day

It has been a beautiful warm spring day here in the Forest.It is busy as tomorrow is a holiday in England.There are more foals about now, but I love seeing them and photograph them when I can. Todays foal is much paler than the ones I have seen so far this year.Over the last week or so I have watched the leaves appear on the beech and oak trees and now most of them are dressed for summer.Earlier today we stoped at Cadmans pond and found several families of ducks with ducklings. There were plenty of geese about and we could see signs of nests on the island but as yet no goslings.

Todays Foal 

Some of our wildflowers are so small but so full of detail. 

A goose looks on..maybe soon she will have goslings 

Some more ducklings 

Another foal and Mum