Back online with a zippity doo dah computer, as far as the eye can see Vista windows and a bigger high-res screen which makes everything smaller. Rather like Alice, am adjusting to new perspectives, virtual hues and being momentarily without photoshop, summoning Picasa’s magic for some wonderland montages.
winter walk at Winkworth
“We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the moonlit sky”
With temperatures on a recent remarkable rise, it’s hard to credit that only a week or so ago we were in the grip of a Siberian cold front. The travel and weather predictions had been dour when I journeyed out of London but the runes were wrong and even the trains ran on time. In the snowscapes of Surrey, leaden skies and a moody morning moon were soon polished off with crisp blues and whites that gave the winter trees of Winkworth a sharpened sense of being in their element.
winter trees at Winkworth
Surrey is the most wooded of the English counties and so the arboretum with its tree walk plateaux, shrubby slopes and lake-bottomed valley seems nothing much more than a tweaked environment. Nevertheless it belies a very personal and passionate collection of a wily dermatologist, Dr Wilfred Fox, some 80 years ago. Most of the 1000 specimens are spectacles for either Spring or Autumn, some are quite unique and rare but an arboretum is much more than an arboreal zoo. In a winter landscape, the pace is slower with spaciousness to view the structures, textures, juxtapositions and whole assemblage of Winkworth as a mosaic.
Coigue/Coihue collage
Of course there is always one or other tree to attract attention and for me it was the Coigue (Nothofagus dombeyii). This Chilean giant displayed its ruddy tones in dappled light, accentuating the fissures of bark and drawing the eye high up into the canopy. Wide-reaching flattened branches bear lustrous semi-evergreen, small serrated leaves which seem somewhat incongruous on such an enormous armature. At base the dense leaf litter is reminiscent of beech woods and pinpoints the distant Fagaceae family resemblance of this champion Southern Beech of Surrey county.
Winter garden montage
Notions of a ‘Winter Garden’ conjure eternal evergreens and the sweetest of Mahonia, Jasmine and Sarcococca scents. By contrast, the subtler, vanilla fragrances and sorbet hues of mature Witch Hazels give rise to visions of a citrus grove. Spidery flowers of Hammelis trees, hanging out their ribbonned petals, are surely the cheeriest of winter celebrants, especially as displayed here, in a copse that can be viewed from an interior.
snow textures
I have to own that half the fun of the day was crunching through the white depths, despoiling the virginal patches with a line of footprints and relishing the textural contrasts and topsy-turvy world of snow. A seat too cold for posteriors to tarry and enjoy the views, supine hosts of daffodils and bunnies with attitude in the brackeny breaks.
There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to its very hollows in snow. It is the still ecstasy of nature, wherein every spray, every blade of grass, every spire of reed, every intricacy of twig, is clad with radiance. ~William Sharp
Thanks to my sister Ceri for a well-wrapped sojourn around Winkworth arboretum, when not even a dog walker was stirring. Memories are made of this…
…and montages were made for a return to the warmth and creativity of Little Red House’s Mosaic Monday.
Coming Soon: Somewhat tardy but will be catching up with Dozen for Diana and plant #2 for a Courtyard garden whilst bringing my Wych Elm into February focus for Lucy’s Tree Follower hub.
And last but not least – am very grateful to my son Simon for a new computer set-up and the confirmation that sometimes speed is of the essence.
I’ve just discovered your blog after you kindly picked my lastest posting on Blotanical – much appreciated! This is a beautiful posting and some great pictures too – especially loved all your snowy pics of the Hamamelis and also the little bunny in the snow too… will be back for another visit soon – thankyou, Miranda
pleased to ‘meet’ you Miranda – a mutually welcome discovery
Here am I in the throes of yet another hot, muggy sticky summer’s evening listening to the cricket chorus outside … wishing I could be in those photos of yours. What beautiful winter scenes. Loved every one of them. Beautiful scenery, fabulous trees and even a cute little bunny. Great winter mosaics.
Bernieh read my post..A Tale Of Two Gardens … My Dry Tropics Garden Journal … Week 8, 2012.
Congrats on the new computer, hopefully it will make life easier.
And congrats on making me miss snow, who would have thought that was possible, lol.
Deborah at Kilbourne Grove read my post..My Tree
I get inordinately excited by new all singing and all dancing computers, even though I try not to show it. Lovely winter post Laura and some great photo montages. I agree that there is nothing better than a walk through the snow as long as you are wearing the right gear.
Janet at Planticru Notes read my post..Orkney archives
- love the contrasting lives we bloggers lead, Bernie. Muggy and cicadas better than dark days though Spring is almost on rise here.
- Kilbourne Grove misses you Deborah and snow is not quite enough to entice you from the Carribean yet
- new computer has breathed life into blogging Janet but still I really should get out more
Great Mosaics!!!
Loving the photos, very stylish. I agree about the how snow can transform the countryside. We didn’t actually get much in the end here in Wales. Enough so I didn’t feel left out when everybody else seemed to be getting it but not enough to cause any problems. I lived in Surrey for a while but never got to Winkworth. I love arboretums and we’re lucky enough not be too far from Westonbirt now. Have a good week, best wishes Wellywoman.
wellywoman read my post..Late Winter at RHS Wisley
What would we do without computer savvy sons? I enjoyed your walk through the winter wonderland. Since scenes like that are so rare here, it does seem magical to me. Your mosaic compositions are great! Happy memories!
That’s what winter arboretums are for – scrunching through. I wish we had some white stuff to scrunch!
Lucy Corrander read my post..FUNGI IN FEBRUARY
Have fun with your new computer. The tardy Diana, has only just got this far in her Google Reader. 30 down, 70 to go …
Elephant’s Eye read my post..Versatile commonorgarden walk
glad I’m not the only one falling behind as it were
A very warm welcome back, despite the snowy theme! That was a fine walk in the arboretum and I can imagine the scent of those witch hazels.Winter gardens are just great, in a way summer ones are not. You really appreciate the colours, scents and forms after weeks indoors.
Crunching through fresh snow is pretty high on my list of pleasures too.
b-a-g read my post..Crocus (17 FEB 2012)
- a winter without much snow this year Wellywoman for all of us. Hence the forecast of drought!
- you’re a nifty mosaicer yourself Deb even without snow
- the white stuff brings magic to trees, Lucy
- think we should start our gardens with a winter theme and progress from there Judith
- that and blowing bubbles for me b-a-g
lovely photos Laura, pleased you had a crountry trip out of town,
I’m a bit amused by your telling us Surrey has the most trees, so I’ve gone from the county with most trees to probably the one with the least, I was on the London edge of Surrey not the posh leafy side,
congrats on the new computer, Frances
Island Threads read my post..the ditch garden
hence you’ve had to plant wind breaks Frances!
Hooray for a new computer – and speed! Love your winter garden montage, and the two daffodil blooms. Winter is like decorating with whites and beiges – just a little bit of color, like the witch hazel, is all that’s needed, not the bright colors that summer requires.
HolleyGarden read my post..February 2012 Garden Book Reviews
a lovely description of winter paints
I’d be very pleased to walk amongst these lovely trees. I like the variety of perspectives you’ve employed!
My Little Home and Garden read my post..Playing with Paper and Words
thank you and welcome
I too love all your mosaics. The combination of images you chose make a really nice presentation.
Donna read my post..February, Month in Tens Calendar
Thank you for taking us a long on your winter walk…it was a beautiful distraction from the work I should be doing! Sons are wonderful, aren’t they? Mine is helping me load some music onto my ipod
I’m a somewhat slow adopter of technology.
Cat read my post..Fire Ants + Fireworks = Forgiveness
Wonderful photos at Winkworth! I need one of those zip-a-dee-do-dah computers. Mine is about to crash. Glad you’re hitting a bit of a warm up.
PlantPostings read my post..A change of plans in the terrarium
Excellent news on the computer front…we still have cold and a bit of snow but I am hopeful winter will loosen her grip soon…love the mosaics and the bunny is adorable!
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Bird Counting
Lovely photos! The topsy-turvy weather we have in London these days makes me rather dizzy, no wonder my plants are confused! Thursday we might get 18 degrees!! Lets hope spring arrive, and stays!
Helene read my post..Another of my Garden Books
Fab photos. I love the hamamelis mollis in particular. I just need to mine to grow to look like that rather than a very expensive small plant!
thought that was what they were til I saw these trees!
It is kind of weird to see your countryside covered with snow while we have had none. I love that orange-red witch hazel. Did you note its name?
Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens read my post..A Wonder of Nature
Am almost sure its H. × intermedia ‘Jelena’ -striking but barely scented
I’m new to your site and have enjoyed your pictures and prose. I live near Seattle and absolutely love our Washington Park Arboretum, especially in winter. Every city should have one!
Oh I do love crunching through snow with nobody much about, there is a particular quality to the quiet, and sharing it with someone you are close to is magical. Lovely pics, enjoy your new speedy view on the e-world. Hi res monitors can take some getting used to, not to mention the different colour balances they can present you with – I have two screens side by side working as one, but each has a subtly different colour balance to it.
Janet/Plantaliscious read my post..Comment on Delight in small things by plantaliscious
the 2 screen option was a step too far for me Janet. Might have needed bi-focals
Now Laura, why did you have to spoil things and put that beastly rabbit in the last mosaic….you know they haunt me:)
Seriously though, lovely post. I always love your write up on trees, often I learn something from you and that is always rewarding.
Glad you are having fun with your new toy. I do really need to change mine but as yet have not plucked up the courage. I do not like change ………
could not resist the Coifue and still behind with my Feb tree post. The rude rabbit was there just for you!
- mosaics a good excuse when there are too many images to choose from Donna
- yours is a fiery one, Cat but even so great to have them to tap into the next generation of electronics
- sticking and crashing was my experience too Beth
- nice to be warmer now Helene
- Seattle to London in a click! thanks and welcome Elaine
Thoroughly enjoyed your visit to Winkworth, Laura! I was there in the high summer of ’95, and your ‘tweaked environment’ rings true; I was at first rather disappointed until I got out of the ‘this is a garden’ frame of mind, and then found it fascinating and informative. Thanks for posting!
JACK HOLLOWAY read my post..Loose ends, but not at a loose end
visitng arboretums out of their best seasons Jack should be like a walk in the park! Glad you enjoyed the virtual winter re-visit.