Looking back - my entry for Macro Monday 2

I am posting to Macro Monday 2 - I feel the need to dream of summer days and the buzzing of bees in my garden -I  tried this year to encourage the bees and butterflies by setting their friendly plants.

So relaxing to spend time in the garden - working away to the buzz of bees - you know we take so much for granted in our busy lives - relaxing with nature can be so medicinal and rewarding

 The foxgloves below are semi wild I think - they are self setters - meaning they self seed here and there but always they look fantastic and add style to the garden

 

the pictures posted are my favourites from the different seasons of the year - this Red Admiral butterfly below  seemed to wait patiently for the picture to be taken - or maybe it was blissfully supping the nectar of the plant

This shot below was taken last summer while out on a dog walk so is not my garden and I am not sure what the plant is - do you know? 

This bee below was blissfully browsing in the gardens at Hidcote - a fantastic garden in the Cotswolds well worth a visit if you can - click on the pics for a better look

Do you know I feel really uplifted - thinking of those summer days -Happy Macro Monday to you all - enjoy your day 

The Forest of Dean and a few days away

The Cistercian abbey of Tintern was founded on 09/05/1131 by Walter de Clare - Lord of Chepstow - we spent quite sometime trying to get a good shot - in fact it became to be a bit of a challenge  so much that we may have to return again to have another go!! - below is my best shot to date

- I had found a picture of the Abbey in a magazine - taken by Wye Valley Studios  I have attached the link - the Abbey was taken from the other side of the river - the river was in flood this time and the afternoon was drawing in so reluctantly we gave up - the pictures on the link are amazing I think - but of course so much equipment is needed for those kind of shots and a strong shoulder is needed to take the weight.

Earlier  that day we walked the paths deep into the forest - the trees  were so colourful in their autumn shades

on the way back to Bream we stumbled across a railway restoration building -so we followed the path down into the valley for a better look - OH was well pleased with the find  and I must admit it had a strange fascination for me too - not so much the workshop

but the old trains waiting

to be rebuilt

and the forest all around

seemed to give a mysterious feel

to the place

 meanwhile back at the ranch !! well we stayed on the edge of the forest in the village of Bream - the common land stretched out in front of the cottage and the forest trials were to the left in the picture - sheep grazed the common land

and chickens definitely free range

were just over the garden fence  and occasionly in the trees

apparently wild boar roam in the forest but we did not see any -  so no pics of them sorry

Thankyou for calling

 Best wishes

 Jane