121 :: October Scenery

Jaana: First frost and snow of the season arrived in October, and also went away again. Today the length of day is 8h 01m, sunrise at 7:49 AM, sunset at 3:50 PM.

Kia: This month, the fall foliage helped me bear with the chilly and blustery weather. Today the length of day is 9h 21m, sunrise at 7:20 AM, sunset at 4:41 PM.

How did October look like in your corner of the world? Do share by leaving a link to your photo!

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February and January.

We have been posting so actively for the past few months, up to three themes a week, that now we need a little break to recharge and gather new inspiration. We'll be back with more frequent posts as soon as possible, but for now we'll only post these monthly scenery shots. Enjoy and have a happy (snappy) day!

109 :: Rowan

Jaana: Unlike last year, there's hardly been berries on rowan trees this fall. Instead their foliage is spectacularly colorful.

Kia: The Yellow-berried Rowan (Sorbus Joseph Rock) has its branches adorned with bountiful jewel-like berries. They are very attractive to fruit-eating birds, and this is reflected in the old name "bird catcher".

107 :: Pylon

Jaana: A close-up of an electricity pylon.

Kia: Pylons, with their geometrical structure, may be photogenic in their own way.

105 :: Apples

Jaana and Kia: What's your favourite apple pie recipe?

97 :: Apartment Building

Jaana: Apartment buildings by a canal in downtown Oulu.

Kia: Built in 1886, the Anchor Mill was originally a cotton spinning mill. Closed in the 1980s, it has now been restored and converted into luxury flats.

85 :: June Scenery

Jaana: It's been a hot, sunny summer so far! Today the length of day is 21h 45m, sunrise at 2:28 AM, sunset at 00:13 AM.

Kia: June has been cold and blustery, with drizzle and heavy downpours and just a few sunny spells. Although, the meadows full of buttercups have been a really cheering sight. Today the length of day is 17h 29m, sunrise at 4:36 AM, sunset at 10:05 PM.

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in May, April, March, February and January.

80 :: May Scenery

Jaana: Spring took so long to arrive this year that it hardly had gotten here when summer already stepped in. Today the length of day is 20h 2m, sunrise at 3:03 AM, sunset at 11:06 PM.

Kia: The early-starting but slow-developing spring of this year has provided us with an unusual flower display for the end of May. Today the length of day is 16h 55m, sunrise at 4:47 AM, sunset at 9:42 PM.

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in April, March, February and January.

Today marks the start of our second year with Finland vs Scotland, so happy 1st anniversary to us! As always, we'd love to see your take on the themes as well, so keep posting your links in the comments to share bits and bobs of your country with us, will you. Your suggestions for future themes are also welcome (scroll down the page for a list of labels to find out what we've already done). If there is something particular you'd like us to show you about Finland and Scotland, do let us know and we'll try to make it happen.

Thank you for stopping by! Happy June ahead, everyone!

72 :: March Scenery

Jaana: Daily sunshine and melting snow, that’s what March was made of. Today the length of day is 13h 30m, sunrise at 6:26 AM, sunset at 7:56 PM.

Kia: March has been colder than January and February, with weather more akin to winter: ice, snow and severe wind-chill. In the past few days the sun has made brief appearances, and hopefully nature will bloom again soon. Today the length of day is 13h 03m, sunrise at 6:50 AM, sunset at 7:53 PM.

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in February and January.

71 :: Signs Of Spring

Jaana: Apart from increasing amount of daylight, my wintry whereabouts have not gotten to witness many signs of spring yet. But lucky me, I managed to shoot this lonely catkin on the 16th. It's a start!

Kia: The first buds appeared on the trees very early this year, and the first crocuses and snowdrops started blooming around February the 15th. Then March turned wintery again with snow, hail and freezing wind. Hopefully spring and its blooms will be fighting their way back.

70 :: Bike Sign

Jaana: Oulu is known as the biking city of Finland. We've got the country's most extensive network of bike/walk routes (over 600 km), and you can see people biking around the city all year round, in every weather.

Kia: The weather in Scotland is not all that reliable, however there are many cycling enthusiasts who, come rain or shine, get out there and enjoy the beauty of the wilderness. Or just ride to work.

69 :: Looking Up (A Bare Tree)

Jaana: Looking up an old, and still very bare, birch tree with polypores growing on its trunk.

Kia: Some of the trees in our area have little green buds, some have already the first blossoms, but many have still bare branches.

67 :: February Scenery

Jaana: The scenery still looks very wintry overhere, but now you can feel the sunshine again! Today the length of day is 9h 28m, sunrise at 7:48 AM, sunset at 5:16 PM.

Kia: We are still getting the odd flurries, but the delicate awakening of nature is already showing. Today the length of day is 10h 21m, sunrise at 7:20 AM, sunset at 5:41 PM.

A reminder of how our sceneries looked like in January.

56 :: Puddle

Jaana: In October our puddles froze.

Kia: On a sunny autumn day even a mud puddle can be beautiful.

51 :: Sunrise

Jaana: sunrise at 08:31, sunset at 17:31, length of the day 9 hours.

Kia: sunrise at 08:02, sunset at 18:01, length of the day 9 hours and 58 minutes.

47 :: Autumn Reflection

Jaana: Mirror, mirror...

Kia: The beauty of autumn colors is emphasized by its reflection.

37 :: Wildflowers

Jaana: Tansy is also known as "button flower" in Finland. Their flowering time lasts from July till September, which is why I always think of fall when I see the first blooms.

Kia: Wild Foxglove thrives in Scottish woodlands, moors, mountains and sea cliffs. In Scotland it's also called Fairy Fingers, Witches' Thimbles and Bloody Bells. Tradition has it that Foxglove leaves were put in new born babies' cradles to keep them from being bewitched.

32 :: Urban Summer

Jaana: Northern Dragonhead (I assume) growing in front of an old pulp mill silo.

Kia: The bright-red flowers of the Crocosmia plant bloom for several weeks in summer. It is commonly known as Montbretia here in the UK.

30 :: Weeds

Jaana: One of the names that Fireweed goes by in Finland is rentunruusu, hobo's rose.

Kia: Meadows are now filled with flowering Fireweed, commonly known as Rosebay Willowherb here in Britain.

28 :: Coniferous Tree

Jaana: Scots Pine, the only pine native to northern Europe, is the dominant forest tree in Finland.

Kia: Monkey Puzzle Tree, a.k.a. Chile Pine, is popularly grown as ornamental tree in western Scotland.

From August on we'll be posting twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays.

23 :: Branches

Jaana: Spruce
Kia: Cherry Tree