Photographer Emmanuel Coupé

Emmanuel Coupé - Elgol, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo SC9376


Emmanuel Coupé - Lochan Urr, Glen Etive, Glencoe, Highlands, Scotland. SC9887


Emmanuel Coupé - Loch Tulla, Glencoe, Highlands, Scotland. Photo SC1077

It's been too long since I went camping in North/North West of Scotland so I thought I'd take a virtual tour courtesy of the wonderful photography of Emmanuel Coupé. His photographs from Scotland, and around the world make me long to travel, but also help satisfy my urge. They are available to buy as Archival quality prints.


Emmanuel Coupé - Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo SC8633


Emmanuel Coupé - Elgol, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo SC5306

Myung Urso

Myung Urso - Brooch: Dialogue - 2011 (via Klimt02)
Natural dyed silk, thread, sterling silver, lacquer


Myung Urso - Neckpiece: Gray Scape 2011 (via Klimt02)
Natural dyed silk, thread, sterling silver


Myung Urso - Brooch: Hometown 2011 (via Klimt02)
Natural dyed silk, thread, sterling silver, lacquer

Great pieces, I always like when you can see the hand of the maker in the construction, and white/grey/red is always a colour combo I love.

More Winter Colours

Indoor Hyacinth is more vivid than than outdoor plants in January

This was about 2 weeks ago, still in flower but determined to fall over at every opportunity. I usually grow them in soil and can pop a skewer in as support, not very attractive with a hyacinth vase. Out in the garden the pinks are paler, which fits well with the grey greens and frosted leaves.


Clematis stems with their own brand of winter beauty

Hydrangea Petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea) has straddled the shed roof.

Clematis 'Markham's Pink' seed head

Osteospermum (perennial)

Frosty Hebe, the one I posted the frosty close-up of the other day.

I intended to do a big post of art that looked liked winter gardens but I need to sleep, here are two, hopefully I'll have time for more later in the week but family are in town so I may not blog much.

The work of paper artist Peter Gentenaar looking like a winter flower.

Paperstring chandelier by Nithikul Nimkulrat.

Winter Garden Colours

Winter sunset behind the tall birch trees

After the last post of silvery frosted leaves I wanted to show that the garden isn't without colour. And Liz, the little colour palettes are for you, so you could see what the family version of my plant book looks like in places.

The Hydrangea above it was a bit of a surprise, I was convinced the heads would have been ripped apart by the gales but the constant winds all year have toughened up all the plants so many things have held up well. Although I'm not really a fan of bright blousey Hydrangeas I do love them once they start to fade though I'd never seen them that way until I inherited this one with the garden.

Heuchera 'Georgia Peach' is a favourite with varying shades of deep pinks, mulberry and marmalade shades depending on season and weather conditions. I've got several new Heucheras with equally wonderful colours but they are tiny plug plants just now. Heucheras take a long time to bulk up in my garden so I'm giving them 3 years until they have enough leaves for good photos.

We've not had as many lovely sunsets as usual so when I spotted this one I had to capture it. If only I could have successfully photographed the 1000's of starlings that were doing their daily sunset flight in front of it. Absolutely mesmerising, but impossible for my camera to capture in such dim light.

On a cold and frosty morning

Beautiful frosting on the Hebe this week.
It's been -4C, no more mildness, but a few breaks in the wind.


All the ground hugging foxglove leaves looked like this.


Alpine Strawberry leaves, a promise of things to come.


Frosty Epimedium


Same Epimedium without frost.
I've really appreciated it's glossy leaves through Winter


Subtle colouring on this small Azalea.
It will have lilac blooms around May


And of course, the seasons little wonders - snowdrops.
I'd seen some pushing through last week but then found that in other parts of the garden they were already in full bud. They will need a bit more time and sun to tempt them to open.

Indoor greenery

The lovely greens of a succulent and an indoor Hyacinth in December. The Hyacinth is in full flower now and smells great, especially in the evenings when there's some heating on and the warm air carries the scent through the room.

Brooches that look like rocks and minerals

David Choi - Brooch via Crafthaus


Isabel Dammermann - Perpetua Brooches

I've been dipping into some of my old posts to enlarge the photo's in them and came across the original Brooches that look like rocks and minerals post in 2008 and decided it was time for another set.


Anna Wallis - 'Silver Crystal' Brooch via Velvet da Vinci Gallery


Amy Tavern - Fabricated Memory: Jewelry Box 1980 via Velvet da Vinci Gallery


Hanna Liljenberg: Brooch via Klimt02
Looks like a piece of Hubnerite


Sofia Björkman - Blackened Brilliance series 2010-'11 via Klimt02


Sofia Björkman - Blackened Brilliance series 2010-'11 via Klimt02
Has echoes of this Goethite over Quartz on this page.


Anna Wallis - 'Drip' Brooch via Velvet da Vinci Gallery

Minerals - Dioptase

Dioptase, Malachite via irocks

Dioptase via irocks


Dioptase via irocks


Dioptase via irocks


Dioptase via irocks


Dioptase, Calcite via irocks


Dioptase, Malachite via irocks

A natural progression from the green minerals in the last post. These types of blues are my favourite colours so I really love Dioptase.

Minerals - Green Pyromorphite

Pyromorphite via Arkenstone Fine Minerals/irocks


Pyromorphite via Arkenstone Fine Minerals/irock


Pyromorphite via Arkenstone Fine Minerals/irocks


Pyromorphite via Arkenstone Fine Minerals/irocks


Pyromorphite via Arkenstone Fine Minerals/irocks

Pyromorphite on Quartz via Arkenstone Fine Minerals/irocks

My last post put me in a green mood. Here are some lovely pieces of Pyromorphite, it comes in other colours but the green are enough for today. I'll post more of my favourite minerals through January.