Garrya and hazel catkins

Male flowers from a Garrya ellpitica bush and a hazel (last picture).

Chillington Wharf in winter

The disused canal wharf near Horseley Fields looks particularly desolate at this time of year.

Frosty umbellifers

Umbellifers covered in frost near Compton lock during the icy spell earlier this month.

Gorse bush by a canal

This gorse bush, growing on the far bank of the Birmingham canal yards from Horseley Fields, was flowering even in the middle of winter.

Wintry canal scene 3

Directly above Compton lock, the mist was rising from the canal so strongly it looked like steam condensing over boiling water.

Wintry canal scene 2

Taken from the same position as the picture in the previous post, but turning to look in the direction of Meccano bridge.

Wintry canal scene 1

The first of three pictures taken by the Staffs and Worcs canal near Compton lock.

There was a wood fire on this narrowboat, the smoke merging with the mist which was rising from the canal under the morning sun.

Frosted buddleias

A coating of frost on the upper surfaces of these buddleia seed-heads and leaves.

Broad Street basin, frozen

The lock-keeper’s cottage is reflected in the ice which was forming on the canal basin.

Oaks in winter

A couple of old oaks showing their structure while they have lost their leaves.