Riotous skies over Ibsley Common
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
Up around Ibsley Common for our evening walk, we’re accompanied by another fantastic sunset.
As I drive up to where I park for this walk, I pass this wonderful old oak tree lit by the late afternoon sun.
From where I park, I look up to the path ahead. It goes straight up the side of the oddly named Summerlug Hill. It may not look it from here, but, though short, it’s a very steep climb.
The trees at the top of Summerlug Hill.
The top of the hill attained, I look out over the meadows that lead over to the River Avon, green after the recent rain, and the trees still bare, but look closely and the promise of the spring growth is definately there.
Across the gravel pit near the edge of the common, I look across to the Whitefield Plantation, the colours intense in the late sunshine.
Pulling the zoom back a bit, the gravel pit, full of gorse and lawn, comes into view.
I turn around and see the roiling skies around the lowering sun.
Birches against a lively sky.
Looking across to the disc barrow Robin Hood"s Clump, the heather which is normally drab at this time of year, is lit to colours rivalling its autumn splendour.
Clouds and sun rays to make the heart sing.
The clouds are turning this into a fantastic sunset.
I head down to Ibsley Pond in the gravel pit on my way back. This is one of my favourite places to photograph the skies over Ibsley Common.
Out of the gravel pit now and looking south west towards the whaleback of Newlands Plantation.
The sun has nearly gone with the sky a riot of blues, pinks and oranges.
Then the sun as gone in a blaze of glory. It always seems to me that the best of the sunset is often in the 20 minutes after it disappears, especially on days with such wonderful clouds as today.