Polling Day Visit to Stockwood Discovery Centre

The Day started with a visit to the Polling Station to cast my vote, then straight on to get food items in Bedford, offload those and head on down to pay a visit to the Stockwood Discovery Centre. The rain which had been a feature in Marston Moretaine and the beginning of the journey to Luton had stopped by my arrival at the Centre, and a charming Chap spotting my camera seemed to be aware of who I was and told me he had just caught sight of a Chiffchaff in the gardens, but it had flown away after being spotted. When I asked about Jan’s whereabouts I learned she had told him I was coming down, so my camera was the giveaway!

I had by that time already spotted subjects worth recording so I continued adding to the tally. It was more than a quarter of an hour later when we met up. And she told me her news, she had handed in her notice and was retiring, she also told me how that news had been greeted; it had come as quite a shock to the management, as she is highly respected for knowledge, and her hard work, and will definitely be missed. I for one will find it less inviting as she has always been very welcoming and extremely helpful in alerting me to what is in bloom and of interest.

The earlier weather had definitely put off visitors as I think I spotted no more than half a dozen people as I wandered around, normally on a weekday there would be mothers pushing buggies or with young toddlers in tow, perhaps the election had also had an effect, and the sounds today were the numerous birds, and in particular on very strident blackbird, and every so often an aircraft taking off from the airport.

The effect of this calm, was that magpies and squirrels had come into the central area, and later as I was leaving I briefly got a shot of each amongst the empty tables outside the café. Jan had alerted me to some features of interest, and so I spent the time in the central area before moving into the greenhouse, and I was very happy with what I managed to capture before dropping into the petrol station to fill up at the economically priced garage just nearby and heading back up the M1 to Marston Moretaine. It was well worth the trip.

May 4th Gardens Visit – Stockwood Park

I had the chance to go down to the Stockwood Discovery Centre, despite the forecast showing only a slight chance of sun; what I did know was that a lot of growth would have occurred since my last visit, and I was unsure when the next opportunity might arise.

I made good time, though on arrival the gardener I was hoping to catch up with was nowhere to be seen, so I simply set to taking photographs initially with the 24-70mm lens with its macro facility, but after a while I realised that I could do with the 100mm, so I swapped over and carried on till the end wit that lens, using the 5D MkIII body.

I had taken quite a few shots when I heard Jan talking to someone else, and it was Bridey whom I had not seen for a while, I showed both some prints I had of the Grebe and its crayfish meal and the recent Kingfisher and its meal, then some of the shots I had just been taking, Jan kindly offered to unlock the greenhouse for me, and I went back to shooting, it was fully half an hour before I went inside the greenhouse, then started making my way out, Was able to thank Jan and it was not long before I felt it was time to make tracks, but no sooner than I had made that decision than a bush resplendent in white flowers caught my attention due to the amount of interest shown by bees.

I therefore spent some time trying to get up close and personal with these busy pollinators, and on shot which could be the parting shot was a bee who climbed away from a flower and came straight into my focus – shame he was flying away not towards me, but I am not complaining! I took a couple more shots on the way out and made tracks to Caddington hoping to pick up a snack to eat on the way back.

A Very Brief Visit to Stockwood

Returning from Marsworth, I needed to warm up and I was close enough to Luton to consider going there via Caddington, so that was the route I took and came across a recent accident on the distinct right hander before the village; the Police and Ambulance were on the scene. My only thought was it was a bend that demanded respect and the offside of the car going in the same direction as myself was damaged badly, so may well have been wide rather than tight to the kerb…

In the village I parked up close to my last home to check on progress and after more than a year, I could see that  it must be close to completion and is now considerably larger than when I last lived there! I picked up some food from the Co-op and headed for the Discovery Centre Gardens, to visit one of the gardeners, but despite my last visit being only a few days, I armed myself with the camera in case. There were far fewer visitors now that the School Half-term Break was over and the weather was deteriorating, and after my meeting I took a few moments taking close-ups of the evidence of new life heralding Spring 2017. Just as I was leaving the Greenhouse, what I can only presume was a Robin shot towards me and disappeared to the far end in a blur as it passed; I was too slow to see where it went despite a quick look around out of piqued curiosity, but it did give me a wry chuckle as I locked up  and headed home in a slight drizzle that became sleet by the time I was back on the M1 northbound.

First 2017 Visit to Stockwood Gardens

Having recently acquired a new lens, the 24-70mm with Macro, I needed to give it a good test, and photographing flowers in the Gardens and Greenhouse at the Stockwood Discovery Centre was the ideal opportunity to see how effective this one lens would be in a real situation. Unfortunately the current spell of English weather was less than ideal – for most of the time it was drizzling gently with spells of slightly more continuos rain. There was also a sporadic wind which meant composing a shot was often fraught.

Also, sadly for several weeks one of the leading gardeners, Jan was off having damaged her hip whilst moving a large compost sack, and this was to be her first day back, and it was my last chance this week to get down to the gardens. Naturally at this time of year there is not exactly a profusion of pristine leaves and flowers, but I have never been completely bereft of subjects on even the briefest of visits, so I did do a good deal of walking.

I came across Jan whilst she was being brought up to speed with what were to be her priorities going forward, and I just said a brief ‘hello’ and asked whether it might be possible to take a look in the greenhouse, and she replied that would be later, and her briefing continued as I turned once more onto my tour, I did take a detour into the Fernery for a spell when the rain got heavier, which allowed me to dry my camera and take shelter for a spell.

Altogether using the lens proved very successful and despite the low light levels and my need sometimes to up the ISO to 3200˚, the 5D MkIII was able to handle that with comparative ease with just a minimum of noise. Later Jan’s briefing tour was over and we walked the length of the greenhouse as she took in what was needed and pointed out a few flowers she thought might be of interest, by which time she was off till the following day leaving me to lock up when I had finished.

Greenhouse Visit at Stockwood Discovery Centre

I have not paid a visit to the Stockwood Discovery Centre for a while, but the opportunity to visit came along and I drove down braving congestion on the M1 caused by a Car Transporter having to be offloaded due to its breakdown.

I had contacted one of the gardeners to check whether she was in work, but the reply came rather late and I had almost given up making it this time, but I realised there was just about enough time, if I gave lunch a miss and gathered my kit and headed off straightway. I walked around most of the gardens upon arrival and there was not much growing. The Easter holiday and sunshine in the Play Area meant it was packed out with mothers chatting as many of their children were making the most of the warmth and activities on offer. The air was alive with the shouts and screams of happy children, so I was hoping the greenhouse would be more productive, and so it proved.

I met up with Jan the gardener who was watering all the plants within the greenhouse and she pointed out a few possible subjects for my camera so I set to trying to capture them in the best possible light; in this case not simply metaphorically as there were large numbers of small seedlings in individual pots taking up almost every spare space! She was happy for me to move them into areas where the sun was able to get through and I could find some space around them. Many though were not movable, so I had simply to manoeuvre myself into the best possible position to achieve a suitable background.

I spent some time there before trying to take a few quick shots in the propagating area hoping to catch up with Jan to thank her for the access.

Stockwood Discovery Gardens Visit

Having not visited the gardens at the Stockwood Discovery Centre for some weeks I felt that given the time I would pay a visit as the light seemed reasonable and I felt the chances of finding numerous images was good.

Upon entering the sounds of children filled the air, as I strolled beyond the Play Area and entered the gardens. At first there seemed an abundance of green, but not a lot of colour, but this proved to be deceptive, once I could see and hear the destruction of the old diamond-shaped Fountain, I then spotted the wonderful length of Lavender, and the occasional colour of a tall flower to the right.

I took a few preliminary shots then sought out the gardener, Jan and soon spotted her beyond the strewn cuttings of the hedge she was trimming at the far end wall. We chatted a while as she continued to level the top of the hedge, and then she asked whether I wanted to take a look inside the greenhouse.

I learned that it now had a young robin visiting and also a frog. I later did spot the robin, which seemed to lack its customary red breast, but I never saw the frog. I did however find much to photograph in there, and I was soon sweating profusely in the moist heat despite almost the entire length had its windows open. Once I had worked my way to the far end there was a welcoming pleasant breeze.

Once I had locked the greenhouse behind me and walked around in the fresh air, I soon dried, leaving my shirt with a white salt tide mark! I headed for the vegetable area and the lavender to get a few shots of hoverflies and bees, before heading for other sections and leaving. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of images I managed to find.

Stockwood Exclusive Viewing

Today the weather was decidedly inclement; drizzly and grey, and I was meeting a friend introduced by Priti, wife of another local photographer. I arrived early for the appointment, in order to see what I could find of interest in the new season’s plantings. I knew it was challenging with such a paucity of light, but an advantage sometimes with very flat lighting, is that it can be ideal to bring out the beauty in flowers. Having droplets of rain can also add a certain je ne sais quoi.

I strolled through to the very far end by a circuitous route, taking stock of the possibilities before opening the camera bag to bring out a camera, and drew up outside the long greenhouse housing the succulents and vines, but on the locked door was an explanatory sign as to why it was closed. Nearby there was a plant that took my interest and also there was a bench where I could rest the bag, so I took out my 100mm Macro on the EOS5D body, set it up for an aperture of f/9 at 640 ISO and as I chose the shot I wanted, I was distracted by a small group of visitors, and then, heard a hail from beyond – it was Sue; of bird-feeding fame, one of the leading gardeners, who greeted me warmly and asked was I interested in her opening up for me. I thanked her, welcoming the opportunity, and soon was inside, much warmer, and out of the drizzle! How could I possibly refuse?

We chatted as she inspected some of the exhibits for insect nasties and doing a bit of dead-heading also pointing out possible subjects as we chatted, and I explained my choice of venue, and that I was meeting someone. When my phone alarm sounded, I told her I had better hurry up with the last few shots and make my way to the restaurant. I bade her farewell to lock up and continue her rounds, and once back in the dry of the restaurant, I spent the last few minutes before the allotted time, looking through the shots – ‘chimping’! Helen soon arrived and we chatted for some time over her Americano and my tea, and in that time she met no fewer than three separate groups of people she knew. Just before we left, Sue knocked on the window, and it turned out – they knew each other! The last couple we met as we all headed for the entrance, turned out to be an Alan and Pauline, Alan is in the Building Trade, which was indeed fortuitous, as I am likely to need help in that direction as make the house more saleable – handy indeed. Altogether, a very productive afternoon undampened by the gloomy weather!