Nestled

Hoping for dragonflies or a reed warbler, I watch patiently from the bridge over the pond at RSPB Conwy - well, to be more accurate, the bridge over the mud as water has completely disappeared. Reeds move tantalisingly, indicating the presence of the birds, but I just can’t catch them. 

I move on, deciding that today’s blip will be more static.  I’ve passed so many umbellifer seed-heads on my walk here, and return to photograph them.  My favourites are the wild carrots; I love the way the long outer stems of the umbel begin to curve upwards, gathering the other stems and their spiny fruits into a crowded mass within their enclosing arms, as if to carefully protect their precious progeny.   

For my main, I’ve chosen one where a feathery pappus has become nestled in its birds-nest structure, with a group of heads in extras.