We Visit RHS Wisley ...

Hello there! Many "Thanks" for your comments on my last post and "Welcome" to my new followers!

On Thursday I went to my third Beginners Photography Class. We learnt how different aperture settings can create a different image. The tutor also explained depth of field and why some parts of an image are blurred when the rest isn't. I wanted to know why when I take a photo of one of our cats, most of the cat is in focus but the feet are blurred. See previous post and photos of our cat, Ruby. All I need to do is set the aperture at a higher number - I will try this out some time this week!

On Saturday, it had promised sunshine and scattered showers and that is precisely what we had. Not wanting to stay indoors and not daunted by a bit of rain, despite KP having the snuffles - we made our way down the A3 towards RHS Wisley in Surrey.

I had thought that I might try taking a few photos on the manual setting but old habits die hard and I found it easier to slip the camera back into auto. The OH and KP always do everything at a galloping trot and they probably (although they don't say it) get annoyed with me dragging my heels.

For some apparent reason the photos have not been displayed in the order that I took them so if you have been to Wisley you may think that I took an arduous route around the site. Also, for some reason, the computer has randomly decided to delete 2,000 of my photos. I can't find them anywhere and I hadn't printed any of them off! The OH, forever the optimist, says "They'll be there somewhere!" I'm not so sure - being a glass half-empty sort of person!

Towards the end of our visit we went to the Rose Garden. It began to rain. I was surprised that many of the roses were still in bloom although many looked a bit jaded and at the end of their life cycle for this year - it is mid October though and they have done remarkably well to have lasted this long. I made a mental note to visit next year at the height of Summer to see the roses in their full glory.

I liked the effect of the raindrops on the flowers.

There were many colours.

The raindrops look like crystals on this red rose.

I loved the inner yellow against the maroon. The colours of my old school jumper (which I used to hate!)

The outskirts of the Rose Garden.

Many of the trees were holding on to their green leaves but every now and again you would catch a glimpse of gold and russet tones.

We wandered towards the Vegetable Garden.

And The Orchard.

We espied some grapes.

And some raspberries - which I was very tempted to try!

I liked the many different colours on these leaves.

Looking Autumnal.

I loved the vivid colour of these flowers.

We came to the Glasshouse.

Which is surrounded by various grass type bushes and plants.

The glass house is vast and houses many exotic plants.

Many brightly coloured flowers.

Including this passion flower.

And many different orchids.

Some fabulous trailing flowers.

We came across a pond with its own hippo!

We saw some stunning hibiscus.

I loved the pale pink of this one.

 Does anyone know what this is - I loved the colour of the flower, its shape and the variegated leaves.

Is this the same flower variety?

We came across the waterfall.

And KP decided that this bell shaped flower looked like a pixies hat!

Delicate pinks.

And then another similar flower to the two above - are they Chinese lanterns? Does anybody know? I should have looked at the labels dotted around the place but was too busy snapping away. I almost fell over a pram taking this photo - how could I have done that! It's hardly a small object!

After our trip inside the glasshouse we grabbed some lunch at the cafe - just a sandwich but fresh and delicious.

The grounds here are fabulous. This photo is a bit blurred - I'll have to ask the tutor whether this is camera shake or just that the auto setting doesn't like trying to focus on too many things all at once. It's probably something that could be rectified on manual with a higher aperture - what we got taught on Thursday and he'll think me a complete nincompoop!

Moorhen.

I loved the colour of the leaves.

Autumnal hues.

We came across a bear sculpture.

And another sculpture.

The Japanese Anemones were still going strong. The ones in our garden are devoid of any flower!

The Walled Garden. This should have been the first photo but it is the last!

There is a great shop and Garden Centre attached with which you could easily part with a lot of money. We were restrained and purchased some pansies for the pots in our garden. I was tempted by some stunning orchids but kept my money in my purse - they were priced at £9.99 for a fairly large plant. I regretted the decision not to buy when on the way home we stopped at Waitrose for a food shop and saw smaller orchids priced at £12.99!

On Sunday, we visited Hobbycraft - not to get anything for me but so that KP could buy things for her school project to make a cell - not the type that holds prisoners but either a human or plant one! She has opted to do a plant cell - we had to purchase paints, brushes, glues and other bits. When we got home the green paint that had been purchased was utilised to paint a box green - it's a start.

Last week I managed to kill the kettle so we had to have a new one. To be fair it had been on its last legs for a few months - it was leaking and water and electrics don't mix, so it was a good thing that it just died quietly and didn't go with a bang! A few weeks back I dropped the iron and broke that. The OH purchased a new one and I've only gone and dropped that one too! It still seems to be working but it does seem to be leaking some water! There is a bit of a theme going on here, I think.

Anyhow, I must dash, things to do and all that.

Until next time,

June.