Day 19 – 30 Days Wild

“admire the setting sun” 

#30DaysWild
#30DaysWild

 Today I chose to admire the setting sun.  I had been at work, plus a couple things didn’t go to plan – so it was a nice relaxed way to end the day.  I took these pictures from my friend’s flat (again, with my mobile).

You can see Beacon Hill, which is part of the Lickey Hills Country Park, from the balcony etc...
You can see Beacon Hill, which is part of the Lickey Hills Country Park, from the balcony etc…
You can't tell, but the Waseley Hills Country Park is in the distance.
The Sunset underway.  You can just make out some countryside in the distance.
A few minutes later, and some how a bit clearer.
A few minutes later.
One without some flats in shot.
One without some flats in shot.

I then went up Rubery Hill a.k.a Cock Hill or the Quarry, to take the last of my photos.

You can just make out Rubery Hill/Cock Hill.
You can just make out Rubery Hill/Cock Hill.
On Rubery Hill now, you can just see rural Frankley in the distance.
On Rubery Hill now, you can just see a wee bit of rural Frankley in the distance.
Without flats in shot,
Without the flats in shot,
You can make out rural Frankley, with some of the New Frankley semi-rural-suburb below it.
You can make out rural Frankley, with some of the New Frankley semi-rural suburb below it.  The stand of trees to the right (which kind looks like a Cadbury’s Chocolate Button) is Frankly Beeches/Frankley Hill.
Coming back, down from Rubery Hill.
Just before coming back, down from Rubery Hill.

Thanks 🙂

Day 18 – 30 Days Wild

What Caught My Eye 

#30DaysWild
#30DaysWild
For day 18, I decided I would take a picture of whatever caught my eye.  The first thing that did, was a lovely Green Shield Bug! 🙂

A Green Shield Bug perched on my parents livingroom window.
A Green Shield Bug perched on my parents livingroom window.
Later I went to visit my friend Laura’s pet shop, CavyNoodle Pets UK – in a village called Rubery.  The shop more or less has a Wildlife Garden out back, where various wildflowers pop up.  The Sweet Pea below, stood out to me.

I forgot how large Sweet Pea flowers and leaves grow.
This Sweet Pea is growing wild, so its’ flowers and leaves are larger than the cultivated varieties.
On the way back, I remembered the Shinning Cranesbill I passed on the walk down to Rubery was very red!  So on my way back up, I snapped a couple pictures.

It'd be really cool, if this whole path was lined with the red plants!
It’d be really cool, if this whole path was lined with red Shinning Cranesbill!

A closer view for you.
A closer view for you.
These particular plants are red in colour due to the dry weather – therefore are nutrient starved, shutting down/stopping chlorophyll production and going to seed quite early.  The remaining sugars in the leaves give it its’ red pigment.  In away, the sugars have caramelised 😀

Thanks for visiting 🙂

Gallery

Day 15 – 30 Days Wild

#30DaysWild
#30DaysWild

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Today I went a 30 minute walk along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from Selly Oak, heading south towards Bournville 🙂

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I’m not against cyclists, at all, but it would have been a lot more peaceful – and easier to take photos – if I didn’t have to get out of the way of people on bikes every 2 minutes! 😛

A person on there bike in the distance.
A person on their bike in the distance.

Along the way I heard plops in the water, a couple times I hoped it was a Water Vole, but it turned out to be fish.  I didn’t see much Wildlife, the odd Moorhen and Mallard – so I decided to focus on the flora I came across and just before I came to end of my walk I came across something I deem as special.  Below is what I saw:

Urban art, with a crumbling wall and wildflowers - I think it looks beautiful.
Urban art, with a crumbling wall and wildflowers – I think it looks beautiful.
I love seeing plants growing out of walls, likes this Fern and Buddleja.
I love seeing plants growing out of walls, likes this Fern and Buddleja.
Look! Red hot pokers! (Kniphofia)
Look! Red hot pokers! (Kniphofia)
I also love seeing strips of Wildflower like this - Poppies, Horsetails and Daisies.
I also love seeing strips of Wildflower like this – Poppies, Plantains and Daises
I'm used to seeing this at Wetland Reserves, like Upton Warren - Yellow Flag Iris.
I’m used to seeing this at Wetland Reserves, such as Upton Warren – Yellow Flag Iris.
I had to pass under a couple of bridges.
I had to pass under a couple of bridges.
Honeysuckle - one of my favourites, unusually growing out of the side of the bank.
Honeysuckle – one of my favourites, unusually growing out of the side of the bank.
And here it is again, this time growing somewhere more typical.
And here it is again, this time growing somewhere more typical.
A closer view for you.
A closer view for you.
Forget-me-not (and Cleavers).
Forget-me-not (and Cleavers to left)

Just as my allocated 30 minutes was coming to an end, I came across this beauty below! 😀

A Marsh Orchid (I think).
A Purple Orchid (unsure as to specific species/variety).

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People can sit and watch it grow.
People can sit and watch it grow.
Had to end on a closer image.
Had to end on a closer image.

Thanks for visiting 🙂