Cologne - Isen Castle - Snow 4

Fourth image of the “Cologne Snow” mini series. Believe it or not, yesterday we had quite a spell of snow in Cologne, so I took the opportunity to walk my new EOS 20D. ;-)

For those of you not familiar with the landscape, the area near the Rhine at Cologne and Bonn has likely the mildest climate in Germany during winter time. We get very little snow at all, and with almost total certainty none at Christmas. So this scenery is somewhat special, and I tried to catch some of the spirit. The image above and the others were taken around the Isen Castle in Cologne, Holweide and on my way back home. See the other images: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Cologne - Isen Castle - Snow 3

Third image of the “Cologne Snow” mini series.

Moat and one of the buildings. See also the other images: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Cologne - Isen Castle - Snow 2

Second image of the “Cologne Snow” mini series.

Moat around the castle. See also the other images: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Cologne - Holweide - Snow 1

First image of the “Cologne Snow” mini series.

Actually on my way back, the playground near the hospital at Neufelder street. See also the other images: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Hallig Gröde - Glasswort

Averting one’s gaze from the horizon, interesting details can be found on the ground. Such as these glasswort plants.

Glasswort (salicornia europaea) can be found in abundance in most of the aggradation zones on Gröde, most of them deeply red colored due to the accumulated salt in late summer and autumn. This plant, found in the excavated hole just north of the Knudswarft, shows the whole range of glasswort colors from fresh green over yellow to red.

Hallig Gröde - Evening Light

Clouds and light scene while the sun is preparing to set in the west.

And again the clouds created a simply gorgeous sky, so that I was more or less compelled to take a series of photographs. ;-)

Hallig Gröde - Barn

Rural idyll, the upper part of the barn belonging to the house shown on the previous image.

Animals (except dogs ;-) are not to be found in each of the four barns belonging to the houses on the Knudtswarft. Cattle are only roaming the holm during the summertime, as guests too. Dairy farming was given up some time ago, the brent geese are eating too much of the gras during their visit in early spring.

Hallig Gröde - House on Knudtswarft

Protected by a ring dyke, the houses on the Knudtswarft provide home for 17 people, the four families, which permanently inhabit the holm.

Two more, the teacher and her husband live on the Kirchwarf, next mound so to speak. All houses have thatched roofs, yielding a very typical North Friesia look, which fits very well into the landscape. By the way, the two windows shown here are part of our holiday appartment facing west with a spectacular view over Gröde, the sea, and the neighboring holms and islands.