Wintry scene

Amazing picture from Csaba Lóki, this photo was selected as one of the best at the Hungarian Nature Photographers’ Annual Prize competition. A thrush is munching on rosehips. I wish I could take a picture like this! Somehow I have a wonderful feel of winter, of cold (which I otherwise do not like much) and the coming holidays…

Rosehips are an amazing source of vitamin C. In Hungary, entire regions have wild rosebushes where people pick rosehips that are later dried and chopped and available in drugstores and pharmacies. Pour cold water over them and let them soak for a while and your "ice tea" is ready. Making a marmalade is another way of using them although it is a very tedious and long process (you have to remove the seeds from the tiny "fruit") and I heard that pálinka is made of rosehips as well.

We also have some  wild rose bushes in the garden, they are beautiful when flowers come some time early summer, but they are at their splendor at this time of the year, until, of course, birds feed on them during harsh winter days. I would not be able to take a picture like this, but a similar scene is possible in the garden.

We have started feeding the birds already as we had some really cold days in December.

Now the waiting is on, and after spending the prep days in Budapest, I cannot wait to see the Abbey from the far field of the garden. Hope some snow will come along...

SmallHill (Kishegy), Hungary