| Photographs of wild flora and fauna l have taken whilst walking around Gazen Salts Nature Reserve, The Ramparts, along the River Stour, Sandwich Bay, and other wildlife country walks around the historic town of Sandwich and the county of Kent, where l also happen to live. |
| Gazen Salts Nature Reserve The woodlands are also home to many flora species, such as primroses, celandine, dog rose, oak, ash, wild cherry, elm, field maple, wild privet, marsh marigold marshmallow, meadowsweet, black bush, yellow iris and many other exciting plants of interest. The lake and the waterways in the Reserve are sustained by a sluice gate connected to the River Stour. The waters further feed and play host to a diverse range of wildlife, including species such as sticklebacks, pond skaters, diving beetles, frogs and toads, newts, kingfishers, moorhens, bats, rats, shrews, weasels, stoats, foxes, hedgehogs, moles, water voles, grass snakes, mallard, tufted, pochard and shoveler ducks, warblers, woodpeckers, blackcaps, sparrowhawks, grey squirrels, parakeets and others including many butterfly species too. |
| I use the following cameras and lenses; Canon IXUS 185 8 x Optical Zoom, Canon EOS 700D, 18-55mm Lens, 75-300mm Zoom Lens and extension tubes for macro photography. |
| Natural Encounters Season 2 |
| Gallery 4 |
| Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Musical Score – Daybreak |
| Wildlife Snippets of Interest! Sycamore Maple The sycamore maple is related to the maple but is a non-native species to the UK introduced from Central Europe in the 15th century. It can easily attain a height of over a hundred feet. If left unchecked and unmanaged, this maple species can spread rapidly due to its speedy growth. They are superb for shade coverage due to their widespread canopy. Sycamore trees are used by wildlife, especially if hollow, as they are extraordinary storage chambers for sheltering species, nesting and squirrel’s winter food. |
| Gallery Above, Red Campion, Common Moorhen, Magpie, Mallard Ducks and Sycamore Mapel. |
| Wildlife Snippets of Interest! Red Campion Some see Red Campion as a weed, others as a wildflower, and others as a woodland herb. I find it beautiful, especially when seen with other flowering flowers such as end season bluebells, parsley, creeping buttercups and garlic mustard. The pinkness of the flower is quite distinctive. I photograph them quite often in Gazen Salts Nature reserve. Red Campions are found in partially shaded wooded areas along pathways, hedgerows, and roadsides and can quickly grow to three feet. They are commonly seen from late April and early May to September and flowers from spring to autumn with some green foliage throughout all the seasons. They are particularly beneficial to wildlife such as butterflies, hoverflies, bees, moths and other pollinating insect species. It is also known as Adder’s Flower, Devil’s Flower, Ragged Jack, Red Lychnis and Hare’s Eye. Apothecaries and herbalists used the flower to treat various ailments like internal bleeds, sores and stings. Healers in other parts of the world used them also for digestive issues and the treatment of warts. Red campion enjoys well-drained soils of moderate fertility and complements both wildlife gardens and meadows. |
| Gallery Above, Common Seagull, Yellow Roses, Spanish Bluebell, Mallard Ducks and Moorhens. |
Earthly Comforts 
Stunning photos, Rory, and excellently written narrative to compliment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Eugenia, many thanks 🙂
LikeLike
My grandmother used to have pink and yellow rose bushes lining the driveway💗 🌹 💛
We used to always have fresh roses on the kitchen table.
Very beautiful calming photos 😊✌️🙌❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Roses are a lovely flower to relax with 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they are ❤️ …
Also very wonderful way to express or say … different colors have different meanings 🌹
And they smell sooooooooo good ❤️❤️❤️ I love roses 🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they do, l used to know them off by heart, now l had to look them up ..
Red: Red roses are the most traditional Valentine’s Day flower, and with good reason. This color represents romance, love, beauty and perfection. It is sometimes said that dark red roses represent humility or unconscious beauty.
Orange: Bright, fiery orange represents life, energy, passion and excitement. Give these roses to someone irresistible. Softer shades, like peach, are used to express sincerity or gratitude, while pastel peach is considered a modest color.
Yellow: The warmth of the yellow rose symbolizes friendship, joy and gladness. These flowers can also be used as a sign of remembrance or affection.
White: White roses come with a variety of meanings, including purity, innocence, grace and humility. Because these flowers have long been popular for weddings, they have also come to represent new beginnings and budding love.
Pink: Pink roses are given to express your admiration of someone’s refinement, elegance or femininity. Darker shades of pink convey a sense of appreciation, while pale pinks are generally used to give a sense of admiration, joy or gentleness.
Lavender: In the language of flowers, lavender roses are used to tell someone that you’re enchanted by them. They also represent desire and love at first sight.
Sadly not many modern roses have scents, old varieties do.
I think once Suze and l get our allotment, l will start growing roses again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha well there is ALOT to have to remember … roses
and many things have meanings or certain gifts 😄😄 years together, birthstones and flowers … tons of things
I sometimes have to look up too … my definitions for roses are pretty same 😊🌹
My favorite are obviously the red and deep red – is classic and beautiful ❤️ meaning of love ❤️
I like the pink and yellow varieties because they remind me of my grandmother 💗💛
I like purple and lavender ones too but that’s because Purple is favorite color 💜
Cream colored roses mean charming and thoughtfulness
And blue ones mean mystery 😉💙
Black is mourning or death – but I NEVER see anyone get black roses 🥀 😮
Yes I have gotten roses with strong scent and ones where I was confused why it not have the scent lol ?
I always always always prick myself lol – never fails – no matter how much I try not. ✌️🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Black roses are not always for death and mourning, but they are mostly associated with those topics sadly.
You are a romantic at heart l feel 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes lol, you could say that.
Am very heart ridden ✌️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Roses require a lot dont they?
Are they hard to care for? I never paid attention to what grandmother did… but she did a lot with them all the time – and then in winter they be stick bushes cause she cut them all lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha – roses aren’t that hard, but they take a bit of getting used to 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some varieties are easier to cater to – like rock or wall roses 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhhh so you DO have to cater to them! Lol
My grandmother had the regular bush kind.
I don’t know if I know the rock or wall ones – I will have to google ✌️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rock and bush varieties are easier to manage – they are more friendlier varieties to new to rose gardening gardeners 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person