Summer weather with sunshine, blue skies and temperatures around 23'C (73'F) or so arrived (as forecasted) on Thursday - just in time for high school graduations and summer holidays.
One definite sign of summer was that when I went out for a walk, I kept coming across half-naked sunbathing people lying flat on the grass in half-hidden places - desperately trying to update their tan for beach parties and whatnot... (I refrained from taking photos, so you'll just have to use your imagination!) - I should perhaps point out that on that day, my feet were taking me along some different paths than my usual ones around the cemetery, though.
Summery view from down by the river.
In the little park by the dam and waterfall, some potted palm trees have been added to create an extra exotic feeling. Our very own Palm Beach! (Bathing in the river not recommended, though. At least not in this spot.)
Lupin(e)s. Loved by some (me included), regarded as "invasive" by others. I associate them with summers in my grandparents' garden, there were lots of them along the railway bank close by, and quite a few had been allowed to invade their garden too...
A surprise "sculpture exhibition" awaited me in a roped off plot of grass (wasteland?) along my way. As I haven't been going in that direction in a long time (at least not since last summer) I have no idea how long they've been there.
In the background, I also spotted some bird houses on tree trunks.
Nearby, there is an old red wooden house, which now looks abandoned and empty - but the yard also unusually tidy, and the lawn seems to have been mowed! The sign on it reveals that it used to be a glazier's workshop. (Not sure what that light phenomenon to the left is!)
Views from a bridge across the river.
On my way back home, casting a glance up the hill beside the road, the impressive roots of these tall old pine trees caught my eye - doing their best to keep the trees in place in spite of the erosion on the sandy hillside...
Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is a common roadside/grassland wildflower here.
Another young bird (I think possibly a jackdaw rather than a crow this time?) resting on the lawn under some trees near my building - also looking a bit like it just fell from the sky and was contemplating how to get up there again. (I didn't witness the actual fall this time, though, so it may just be my imagination jumping to conclusions...)
Linking to Skywatch Friday and Weekend Reflections
you know it is spring when the birds are falling from the sky, he is so cute. or she. love the palms at the bridge, that is what I would name my Bed and Breakfast at your Palm Beach. ha ha.... gorgeous pics, even the ones of the ummm kind of ugly sculptures. sorry if the artist reads this...
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. I've not seen/heard these sculptures mentioned anywhere (like our local newspaper) so I assume they are "amateur" art. One never knows though... maybe a new Picasso in the making! ;-)
DeleteIt must be quite alarming to come across partly-hidden partly-clothed bodies, but after the first few it seems almost normal.
ReplyDeleteI like the bird sculptures - great fun.The tree roots are tremendous - what purpose and stamina!
Janice, the first two sunbathers I almost lierally stumbled on were not really all that much undressed, but they were lying spreadeagled on the lawn behind the gable of an apartment building (right beside the footpath where I came walking). The third one was in the park down by the river, a young girl lying on her stomach on the grass near a hedge, and as far as I could see not wearing anything but an almost invisible thong... (Not a lot of people walking by just there but definitely not a "private" place...)
DeleteBeautiful photography. I like the shot of the old red house. Was that taken with a cell phone? If so, I think that's a light flare coming in from the left. Phone cameras don't have lens hoods, and light flare is a common problem.
ReplyDeleteSPP, yes, all these photos were taken with my cell phone, so no doubt you're right.
DeleteI love this river view and the iridescent dove. I guess the soil had eroded under the tree roots! We have Lupines and Buttercups. Those sculptures make no sense to me, I would not even really call them sculptures. Pretty much the first artwork I have ever seen you post that I don't like.
ReplyDeleteGinny, I'm pretty sure that these sculptures are not part of the city's "official" ones, but some private project. As for the small plot of land where I saw them I'm not sure if that's private property or public "wasteland". If private property I suppose the owner can put whatever creations they want on display there!
DeleteSunbathers, nostalgic lupins, unexpected art, and a touch of mystery from the old glazier’s house, all woven together under sunny skies
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ro :)
DeleteThat was a very pleasant summer walk, Monica; thank you for taking us along. 23C is very nice. Here, we constanly seem to be jumping from (relatively) chilly to unbearably hot and back again, but it‘s ok; I much prefer a cooler day or two after some hot weather instead of the hot, hot weeks on end we‘ve had some summers, with no relief and no cooling off during the nights.
ReplyDeleteMeike, the weekend has been warmer and kind of "stuffy" (today also mostly cloudy). Probably turning colder and partly rainy again for the week to come - which on the whole welcome, too. Like you, I'm not fond of long periods of heat either and prefer when the nights keep cool.
DeleteLovely sunny scenery, we don't see houses like that here so it's something unusual. I would get a shock too if I turned a corner and saw half naked people.
ReplyDeleteAmy, can't say it "shocked" me - just wasn't expecting it...
DeleteWhat a lovely walk in prefect weather. Everywhere looks so colourful and clean. Knowing Sweden's attitude towards nudity, I'm not sure I would have been too shocked to see half naked people! Sharing a sauna with friends made me realise how straight laced we Brits are!
ReplyDeleteCarol, can't say I was shocked, just more like "oops, summer is here". - Even in Sweden there are still certain unspoken "dresscodes", though. (Like what one may expect on a beach vs in the city...)
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