Daffodils at Bodnant

We wake to beautiful sunshine - though the air is decidedly chilly. We’ve decided to go to Bodnant today; we know it will be busy, but at least we’ll be able to park. The alternative walks in Eryri are likely to be inaccessible due to car parks being full, and we’ll need to wait for a weekday to visit. 

I want to see the meadow daffodils in flower - earlier than usual this year. They’re probably a few days short of being at their best, but there’s still a beautiful display. This year, they’re subtly cordoned off, with signs asking visitors to not to walk amongst them - obviously sensible to preserve the flowers,  but it’s clear several people resent not being able to get amongst the blooms for photographs. 

I photograph them from the other side of the Ha-ha - the sunken fence which separates the more formal gardens from the parkland, using a long lens to get up close without crossing any barriers. 

Of course, there’s plenty more to photograph within the gardens - though the pink magnolias seem past their best and the white are yet to fully open. Also mitigating against more flower photography is the fact that here deep within the valley, those blue skies of the morning are long gone, replaced by heavy clouds.