Britt-Arnhild's House in the Woods

Spring colours in the botanical gardens

@brittarnhild

A long winter is coming to an end.......almost. Well, yes, I know we can have snow yet for at least one month, probably more, but trying to forget that, I am enjoying the more the lovely mild days we are experiencing for the moment.

With our own garden still at least party covered in snow, I decided to go for a walk in the botanical gardens today,

my main goal looking for spring colours.

Here, there and everywhere, I found  spots of colours. Some yellow eranthis here,

some purple crocuses there.......all while the thrushes were singing their heart out.

 

I took some footage for my next episode on YouTube, and after my walk I drove up to my parents, to have lunch with them, and to tape some more of mum´s piano music, for the YouTube-videos of course :-)

 

The botanical gardens here in Trondheim

@brittarnhild

Some years ago I did a monthly post through the whole year here in the blog from our botanical gardens here in Trondheim. Terje and I drove over to the gardens this afternoon for a hike, and I decided to see if I can do a monthly post this year as well.

We have had a period with little snow, a lot of cold and deep frost, so everything was dead, colourless and the paths and the lawns hard as stones.

Still, if you look for it, there is always beauty to be found.
And to know that the soil you work on is filled with roots, send and bulbs which will overwhelm you with beauty and life in a few months. That's magic!

 

Winter in the Botanical Gardens

@brittarnhild

Saturday, and while Terje went out cross country skiing after breakfast, I drove over to the botanical gardens. Winter as I remember it from my childhood, snow, frost, blue sky, sun. These days are too rare now, but even better when they finally arrive.

Most of the garden was covered in snow, but under the huge trees birds and squirrels could still feast on seeds and cones. This little critter looked curiously at me when I took out my camera.

There is a special bird feeding are in the gardens. Today a group of bull finches let me watch their lunch.

When winter is like this, I almost forget that I long for spring.......

 

Birds and sun in the botanical gardens

@brittarnhild

The winter continues to be icy cold.
I continue to do birding and also my new hobby YouTube-ing.

I went over to the botanical gardens today.
With my binoculars, with my camera, and with my cell phone to make videos.

I was hoping to see the two-barred crossbills which I saw in January, but did not. 
A willow tit followed me around though :-)

 

I did a birding film, which I will post later this week.
Today´s video on YouTube is from some kitchen fun at the cabin.

 

 

 

A fresh walk

@brittarnhild

First a stomach bug, then the flu.......two weeks almost, with helath issues and still a full house of Christmas guests. But when I woke this morning, I felt I had met a turn.......I wanted, really wanted, to go for a walk. Weatherwise we have not had the best Christmas. It snowed on Christmas Eve, but since then we have had rain and wind and rain and wind and....... All the snow in the garden has melted and everywhere is wet and soggy. Still icy and slippery roads and pathways up here where we live, but down near the fjord the walking conditions are better. So while we had a late breakfast, I asked Terje: "Do you want to come with me for a walk in the botanical gardens?"

He did, and soon we were on our way.

When we arrived the rain fell heavier, the wind blew stronger, but we were properly dressed and had a wonderful, fresh walk. Not much to photograph without ruining my camera though, but I managed to shot this lovely Chinese Malus toringoides.

 

I wonder why the berries are not all eaten by the birds. May be they are poisonous.

 Not much winter colours in this shot.

And no birds down near the pond.

 

I am thankful the sun has turn yet again, and we are walking towards longer, lighter days.

 

 

September in the botanical garden

@brittarnhild

September in the botanical garden brings a new palett.

Sunny, and temperatures quite warm for the season.

The air feels different.

Still time to build your secret place among the leaves.

Soon they will fall.

 

 

I wander.

I stop.

 

I stroll along.

 

 

 

 

Lunch and coffee in Café Victoria.

 

 

Then

it

is

time

to

move

on

 

Summer night in the botanical garden

@brittarnhild

The night was so beautiful. I sat out in the garden, but when Marta suggested a night walk in the botanical garden, it was easy to say yes.

First we went down to the fjord to photograph the sunset, and then up in the garden to enjoy the beautiful light.

Motives everywhere.

.......and she kept the moments in her heart

April Sunday in the Botanical Garden

@brittarnhild

No spring without a blog post from the botanical garden here in Trondheim.

While we still have quite a lot of snow up in The Blue Garden, spring has come to Ringve, which is down not far from the seaside.

Still a thin layer of ice on the pond.

The ducks are used to the Nordic spring though :-)

A chaffinch sang us a lovesong.

I am an April girl, I wonder if that´s the reason that I love April so much  (my birthday is coming up next Sunday and I will get the best birthday present ever! Our grandson will be baptist).
 

Happy April.

Spring in the Botanical Gardens

@brittarnhild

The morning was grey, but it has stopped snowing and the temperatures are rising, so after breakfast we decided to take a walk in Ringve Botanical Garden to see if more signs of spring has arrived since our last visit.

We were early, and during our walk the only visitors in the garden. No other people, but quite a few birds, and yes........the colours of the garden are appearing.

And as the trees still are bare, the flowers are easy to find, easy to photograph.

Crocuses, primulas and puschkinia I already have in The Blue Garden......

 

but not this beautiful yellow winterflower, eranthis.
Now it is on my wish list though :-)

The first rhododendrons are blooming.

I guess I will still have to wait at least one month for the first flowers in The Blue Garden yet.

Walking around.....

in silence......

and beauty........

In the best season of all.

With the best man of all.

 

Happy Spring,

wherever you are on our beautiful planet.

Not quite spring yet in the botanical garden

@brittarnhild

At this time of the year the Botanical Garden at Ringve workds like a magnet towards my body. It is crying my name, and I am responding.

Being in early March, it is still too early for spring at our latitude,
but the signs have started to show, some quite obvious,

others more hidden.

I will be there, to follow the signs.

::::::::::::::

By the way, I opened the greenhouse the other day,
and The Blue Garden is making itself ready for new life.