Almost full moon

I took this picture near my parents' home in Greece a few days before the August full moon. I was going on an errand with my dad and didn't have my camera with me, but when I saw those clouds and the moon shining bright, I just had to go pick it up and snap this shot.

Stormy clouds

This weekend is a long one in the UK (Monday is a bank holiday) and long weekends usually mean stormy weather. True to form, yesterday's semi-clear morning skies gave way to stormy clouds by early afternoon, and we've not see the sun since.

It's wet and miserable out there at the moment, but at least I got a nice photo out of it. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining...

Sing a song of sixpence...

Just a blackbird caught singing in the garden...

This is the Common Blackbird, Turdus Merula, also called Eurasian Blackbird. The male is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and beak. It has a rich, melodious song.

This photo reminds me of the nursery rhyme with the blackbirds in a pie. Enjoy!

Sping has sprung

The extra cold winter we had this year means that the arrival of spring has been delayed by a few weeks, but now that it's here, it's really colourful.

I took this picture at a park near my home. As you can see, the tulips are out in full force.

The plain of Thessaly

Greece is a very mountainous country and large stretches of flat land are both rare and agressively cultivated. The lowlands between the towns of Trikala and Larissa in Thessaly (central Greece) form a plain surrounded by a ring of mountains. The area has a distinct summer and winter season, with summer rains augmenting the fertility of the plains. This has led to Thessaly being called the breadbasket of Greece.

This photo shows part of the plain of Thessaly close to the mountain village of Domokos. We were driving down the mountain when I took this photo. It was early evening and the light was very poor - I only noticed the Avin fuel truck when I uploaded my photos on the computer.

Dreaming of blue sea and golden beaches

The sun's shining, the temperature has risen to double figures (yayyyy!), the air smells of spring -- and hubby is planning a skiing holiday for us. I love snow as much as the next person (maybe more), but given the choice of a week in the mountains or a week by the sea, I'd opt for the sea without hesitation.

This is Porthminster beach in Cornwall on a grey autumn morning. The sea is the Atlantic. I can't help thinking it must look gorgeous in springtime.

Winter approaching

Last week I returned to Wells, where I'd taken photos of the last of the fallen leaves in late October. The yellows and oranges of autunm are starting to give their place to bare trees and brightly coloured grass. Winter will soon be here.

Autumnal pinks

Proof that autumn isn't just about golden leaves and bare branches.

Last of the fallen leaves

I took this picture two weeks ago in Wells, SW England. After the latest storms hit the west coast yesterday and today with winds of up to 100mph (160km/h), I reckon these were the last of the fallen leaves for this year.

A touch of colour

Spring is still here, but autumn is reportedly round the corner. Better enjoy it while it lasts.

Autumn or spring?

Winter may be approaching, but on days like this, it feels quite a lot like spring.

Snowy mountain road

It turns out I don't go to the mountains all that often, as I have too few photos of trees and mountain tops. This one is probably the best one in my collection, taken through the car windscreen as we were leaving the Mainalo Ski Resort on New Year's day five years ago. At this point, we're at 1,500 m. above sea level.

Arcadian landscape

This is a typical Arcadian view. High mountains and tiny plains make up approximately 90% of the land in Arcadia, in central Peloponnese.

The colour squares arranged in a line are beehive boxes. Beekeeping is very popular in Arcadia because of the fir blossom pollen which gives a uniquely aromatic honey.

Butterfly and flower

This is a butterfly I photographed last month in Greece. Having spent ages looking through various butterfly websites, I think this is a High Brown Fritillary, which is quite rare in the UK.

Or it could be a Dark Green Fritillary. Or a Common Leopard (according to hubby).

Anyway, I don't know what it is, but it sure was quite pretty and I'm delighted it stood still long enough for me to snap this photo.

Cherries

Cherry season is at its peak and cherry trees are full of big, juicy fruits. For a cherry lover like me, it's the perfect time to be in Greece. Cherries sold in England are usually imported from Turkey or the US, are very expensive and not nearly as nice as the ones you pick straight from a tree. Yum.

Countryside

A typical view of Greek countryside during summertime. Can you tell that we don't get a lot of rain in the summer months?

Mountain view

Travelling towards Athens from the Peloponnese, this is some typical Greek mainland scenery.

Seagulls

These seagulls following our boat all the way from the island of Aegina into Athens looked like the might land on us, but thankfully we escaped unscathed.

Spring has sprung

Spring - the promise of renewal and new life.

May flowers

Spring weather has been very mild this year and the gardens are full of colour. Welcome the new month!