Berberis buds

One of the March-flowering shrubs of our garden is the Barberry (Berberis darwinii), an evergreen with prickly leaves. It is a plant that requires annual pruning and those leaves have to be handled with care. However, the local house sparrows don't mind the prickles and can regularly be seen sheltering in the bush, indifferent to people passing close by. The photograph was taken before the flowers opened, and the buds were making a fine display, almost looking like berries.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Clematis montana

Clematis is one of those plants that seems to benefit from a gardening regime of benign neglect. I took this photograph in the garden of someone I know, a place where that description seemed particularly appropriate. The clematis montana was climbing up a fence and spreading vigorously into the lower branches of shrubs and trees making a marvellous spectacle. When the flowers have died down and the seed heads have developed it will look less attractive to all but the birds of the locality.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100