Near and far, far and near

It’s wonderful sunshine and the cherry blossom is open. I’ve tried taking a close-up but need a bit more practise. I didn’t take this photograph because it shows the pale green pistil; the female reproductive organ with its long stem, the style, with the bulbous stigma on the end. I also didn’t take this photograph because of the many stamens, the thin white filaments with the yellow anthers full of pollen on the top. I took this photograph because of the shadows of the pistil and the stamens projected onto the pale pink petal. Next time I’ll take just a photograph of that, and maybe I’ll get it in focus properly.

Cherry - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It’s a flowering cherry tree on the pitch-and-putt in Shaldon in South Devon; at least that’s what it used to be called. It now has a sign saying ‘Approach golf’. I’m not sure if that’s an instruction or a name.

Cherry - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

In the distance I can see Teignmouth, the town at the mouth of the River Teign which runs down from Dartmoor. Teignmouth was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power: In July 1690 the French fleet was anchored in Torbay after defeating the Anglo-Dutch fleet at the Battle of Beachy Head. 1,000 of the French sailors travelled up the coast and attacked Teignmouth.

“… on the 26th day of this instant July 1690 by Foure of the clocke in the morning, your poor petitioners were invaded to the number of 1,000 or thereabouts, who in the space of three hours tyme, burnt down to the ground the dwelling houses of 240 persons of our parish and upwards, plundered and carried away all our goods, defaced our churches, burnt ten of our ships in the harbour, besides fishing boats, netts and other fishing craft…”

Teignmouth - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It seems to have recovered.

Feel free to leave a Reply :)