Sakura

This Spring the blossoms have been wonderful. This one is now nearly finished but others are following including a pale pink and a larger white flowered one. What a wonderful time of the year so long as the wind doesn't blow.

Pale Green Maple

This lovely pale green maple is very tender and the wind usually damages the fonds at this time of year. This year there has been enough shelter even though the recent winds seem to have been very severe. The blossom trees are looking beautiful and the young leaves are appearing on the oaks and birches. Spring is really here now.

Colourful Cylinder

This colourful cylinder was fired in our anagama for nine and a half days. It has wonderful crystalline effects and depth of colour. It is magical how the very long firing with wood can produce such wonderful colours.

Winter Trees

Trees without leaves are nearly always interesting. Unfortunately this one is soon to be removed to make way for a new library building at one of the local colleges. The new building is being designed by an architect whose buildings are exceptionally wonderful and will make a permanent memorial to this tree.

Wrought Iron Gate

Many years ago Estelle and I belonged to the local Camera Club. Recently I scanned some B & W negatives of competition pictures we took back then. This is of a wrought iron gate illuminated by a single light at the entry. The house and gate have since been demolished which is sad as they were very lovely structures.

Len Castle Bowl

This lovely bowl by Len Castle I gave to my son and his new wife recently and, sadly, it was broken in the Christchurch earthquake last Saturday. Compared with the other damage that was done this is only a minor disaster. I feel so sorry for those people who have lost homes and businesses.

Violets

This year my violets have been wonderful and are spreading further and further. They make good ground cover. The perfume is delightful and the colours quite remarkable. There are the common violet colour as well as the pink one shown here. Also there are white ones and a pale blue as well. I hope you enjoy these pictures.

Fern by Entry

This is a picture of an early pot of Estelle's and a young fern growing by the entrance to my house. I love having pots in the garden and many have been around for a long time. Well fired pots withstand the frosts which seems to surprise many people.