Welcome to the April photo-a-day thread. The March thread will be left open for a while to allow for World time zones. It will close it once it is March 1st for everyone.

If you're new to photo-a-day then check out Tellywellie's thread for all the information.

Happy snapping.

Start the month off with more Chihuly...

I think this one was called "Green Hornets"

Another beautiful flower arrangement

Love the 'green hornets' and the beautiful flower arrangement.

The weather has been glorious this week and the seafront shops are ready for the Easter influx of holidaymakers.....

The historic St. Dunstan's church, in the nearby village of Hunsdon.

Anyone following my project will know after getting most of the old direction signs I'm still after an old warning sign with a red triangle on top. I missed two nearby from laziness/bad luck and the few in London till last year or so became zero known, and am now using Streetview to check as many places as possible in case.
But last night I found someone had discovered one although it's long lost its triangle on top, it means at least London still has at least one left, and here it is. It needs a coat of paint and isn't used any more as the road was considered too dangerous to use, but provided many years of service before then.

I saw this car being towed away on my way to class yesterday.

There was a new quiz posted last week about the many varieties of Hershey candies, so here's a picture (taken in December) of downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania, in front of one of the company's plants. The air is so chocolatey... it has to be one of the best-smelling factories anywhere!

In addition to the Hershey Kiss streetlamps, there are Hershey trinkets for sale everywhere, and many tourist attractions including a brand-new "Hershey Story" tour, a big amusement park, zoo, antique auto museum, and a spiffy spa at the grand old Hotel Hershey, where one can indulge in things like a Whipped Cocoa Bath, Chocolate Bean Polish, and the Chocolate Fondue Wrap.

There's even cocoa-hull mulch in most of the gardens around town.

You can learn more about Milton Hershey, his candy innovations, and the school he founded here:
http://www.thehersheycompany.com/social-responsibility/heritage.asp

My granddaughter loved her visit to Hershey, PA (and so did I). We had a great time at the Hershey store.

More Chihuly...

This one is called Scorpion Tails and Bamboo

I can't believe the scultpures are glass - they're amazing.

Black swan.

"There's even cocoa-hull mulch in most of the gardens around town."

Now this has caused a controversy because pets are attracted by the smell and have gotten seriously ill by eating the garden mulch, as the hulls are not readily digestible. Hershey's initial indifference to the problem did not endear them to the heart of many animal lovers.

I don't know if since the first public outcry if Hershey's has changed the formula or stopped marketing the product but there was an effort at boycotting all Hershey's products because of the controversy.

Not sure whatever became of the issue.

Small arrangement of camellias and azaleas

It's been such a treat catching up on all the photos. All are so wonderful. Bhs, I will have to make it to your house someday. If it was on the historic tour, I'm sure it's one I'd love to see. Your flower arrangements have been lovely.

I'm going to have to make it back home to Arizona soon; the Chihuly exhibit looks like something I'd love to see.


As I mentioned last week, we were traveling to the Northwest and we encountered a LOT of snow. This was taken in northern Wyoming. Have I mentioned before that I hate driving in the snow!

You have a beautiful home, Bhs.
Clatrasue, it must take forever driving on those roads? what sort of speed can you do - it looks so slippery.

Can any one help me .. my new computer for some reason won't let me upload to photobucket but nothing comes up saying so .. just nothing happens. Any ideas?

I posted this eagle the other day sittng on the telegraph pole - here he is taking off.

Earlier today I saw work being carried out on a 275 kV electricity tower, which made me nostalgic. I took several photos, but the linesmen can hardly be seen in this distance one, so I hope it doesn't break the 'no people' guidelines.
The metal platform on the lower left arm is hoisted into position, and is used for access to the insulator strings. I recall the days when linesmen just climbed over, or sat on the string itself!



I think today must have been the warmest day of the year so far, and the sky was blue and cloudless.

Copago, the roads were snow packed and/or slushy for about 350 miles. Travel speed was about 73 kph/45 mph. At one point the road was closed and we had to wait until daylight before it was opened again. Can I say again how much I hate driving in this?

An older Mercedes model. I couldn't get a better shot that was in line with the forum 'people' guidelines. Bombay has just too many people.

Our village church. There is evidence to suggest it was started before the Norman conquest of 1066 making it almost 1000 years old.

This one is called "Red Reeds" and that's a baby Boojum Tree in front, one of my favorite desert plants (although they aren't native here -- they grow in Baja California).

A grassy patch under an oak tree, in the park:



Tiny anemones, prettily mixed with daisies

Quiet road in the nearby pretty village of Hunsdon
There was a cyclist in the image, but I 'erased him' in accordance with the 'no people' rule
I left his shadow though, which I assume is OK - look closely and you'll see it, the 'shadow of the invisible man'

White hydrangeas in dining room

Thanks for the info on cocoa mulch, Tredici!
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This was a few weeks ago down by the Wissahickon. By now, someone (probably from the neighboring nature center) might have a jug of maple syrup from these taps. Mmmmmm.

From inside our village church. The marks are Crusaders crosses thought to date from the 12th Century.