Blossoms of the Witch Hazel - the Golden Queen

Although I have already seen blooming Hamamelis in January in my hometown Freiburg, I now discovered the most beautiful little bush of Hamamelis here in Munich now. The blossoms were huge and the backlit situation added a lot to its delicate beauty...
And it's also a very valuable healing plant - creme with hamamelis extract is used for all kinds of skin irritations and little wounds.

"Hamamelis"(Hamamelidaceae)

witch hazel, Zaubernuß

All photos are from Munich - photography by Petra Voegtle

Blooms like little Suns....

Isn't this promising?

"Anemone ranunculoides" (Ranuncolaceae)
buttercup anemone, Gelbe Anemone, Buschwindröschen

One Day with a Spring Message....Blooms

I could not believe it but yesterday was a day where you could sense that spring is near although today it is one of those typical dull and dark days again but yesterday...
Doesn't this look like a promise? But there are more - much more - so check it out tomorrow!

"Crocus Flavus" (Iridaceae)

Golden Crocus, Goldkrokus

All photos are from Munich - photography by Petra Voegtle

The Feeling of Heat...

Isn't it interesting that we immediately associate a ripening corn field with heat and warm summer breezes? Even if we only see a picture, we instantly reckon to feel that warmth...

All photos are from Munich - photography by Petra Voegtle

Larch in Autumn...

The larch is the only deciduous needle tree in Germany that loses its needles in autumn. And as needles are nothing but leaves they change colour of course which again is a wonderful sight with a blue sky in the background...

"Larix" (Pinaceae)

larch, Lärche

Barberries in Yellow and Orange - the last ones

These are the last ones of 2008 - I promise - no more...
And as usual - don't forget to click the photos for enlargement - looks much prettier...

"Berberis" (Berberidaceae)
barberry, Berberitze

... and suddenly it's all over

... and we are waiting for the new beginning

Before they go to Sleep...

Each year we are the witnesses of a drama - because a drama that is. Every bush and tree, often ignored during the year, suddenly changes its habits - they are wearing festival costumes and they prepare the floor for the last dance...
Don't forget to click on the images to enlarge!

Green and Gold...

The greens are turning gold and no-one cares to watch that last act of nature before the white death comes...

More of the golden Ash...

I especially like these photos for their dynamic - the wind was blowin' quite strongly while I took these photos....

"Fraxinus" (Oleaceae)

ash, Esche

On the last day of this year...

On the last day of the year I'll show you what I promised a while ago - the cycle of the cherry trees at a certain place...

A very Happy New Year to everyone!

Golden Birches....

Normally the wind blows them away, immediately, as soon as they appear - the golden leaves of the birches. But this year we had the luck of an exceptionally beautiful autumn and I had the opportunity to photograph many different trees in their most beautiful dresses. These were the birches...

"Betula" (Betulaceae)
birch, Birke

Golden Ash....

The ash tree was the sacred tree of the celts. In Germany you'll find them often in public parks and residential areas because of their beautiful blossoms and filigree foliage which appears with an outstanding luminous green in spring.
Normally they lose their leaves in autumn when they are still green. This year I found some real beautiful exceptions - but judge for yourself...

"Fraxinus" (Oleaceae)
ash, Esche

Ginkgo Leaves in Autumn...

Ginkgo trees are very difficult to photograph as a whole so that it really looks good. Due to the tree growing very sparsely with few branches you often have either too much irritating background or the tree itself is too asymmetrical. So the solution is - besides choosing a detail of the beautiful leaves - to go for a good crop which I did here again.
The reason why I find Ginkgos so extremely interesting is that in autumn the leaves are turning into an incredibly warm yellow without the slightest touch of any other colour such as red or brownish.

Fallen Gold....

where all things go to with the hope for a new year and a new life...

Last sunny Days in October...