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A rare glimpse of the sun this morning reminded me that I had neglected to offer any photographs of the front garden in yesterday’s post.
These are the flowers fronting the garage doors. I am sure that the Head Gardener would wish to have it pointed out that she swept this area later.
Two general shots display Japanese anemones and a couple of clematises;
and petunias, hydrangea, and erigeron. The tree is a winter flowering cherry.
On the trellis honeysuckle and solanum are prominent,
while petunias in hanging baskets and orange nasturtiums add vibrant colour.
Although patches of blue sky would peek between occasional gaps in the threatening clouds, we didn’t see much more of the sun.
I spent much of the day on form-filling and other administrative tasks. This afternoon Jackie drove me to the soon to be closed down Hordle Post Office to avail myself of a box that would take larger envelopes. We then drove into the forest.
At East Boldre it seemed sensible to stop as a donkey foal wandered in front of the car.
Not worried in the slightest, the mother lived up to the reputation of her kind, and tore at thistles
and brambles in contented oblivion,
whilst her offspring, after a little thought, ventured back into the road,
causing an Openreach van to give the creature a wide berth when it stopped to enjoy a leisurely scratch. Either the adult was extremely negligent or she considered that the youngster had learned that it had the right of way on New Forest roads. This is almost certainly the same mother and child I photographed in April soon after the baby’s birth, when it was sprawled out across the verge.
Further on, beneath a heather covered hillock at Crockers Clump,
on the edge of a Stygian pool,
a long tree had fallen across the sward, coming to rest against one still upright. In compliance with regulations in the interests of ecology this tree will remain where it lies until it rots away.
This evening we dined on succulent chicken Kiev served with new potatoes, crunchy carrots, and toothsome green sprouting broccoli. Jackie drank Hoegaarden annoying 1445, and I drank Parra Alta malbec 2016.
Interesting mother-child dynamic that equates to humans too … is she very relaxed and confident or is she negligent? Should we involve social workers or will that result in magnified donkey problems? Whatever the conclusion they are a glorious pair of donks, that is certain 🙂
Many thanks, Osyth. I think the baby, at 4 months, has learned he is king of the road. Keep Social Workers well away 🙂
As he well should!
Poor baby, precious photos! Love the reflections in the water
Thanks very much, Lynn. I expect he’ll live to a ripe old age
I am not surprised that every portion of your garden is lovely, Derrick–front, back, sides.
The baby donkey is so adorable. I do hope he doesn’t decide to test out his right to the road again.
Wonderful photos, as always, though perhaps you’d better stay clear of the Stygian pool.
I’ll do my best, Merril. 🙂 Many thanks
Love your Stygian Pool! 🙂
Many thanks, Pauline. It just came to me
As the tree falls so shall it lie – near the heather covered hillock in Crockers Clump – an excellent tongue twister (I thought).
Clever chump. Thanks a lot, Bruce.
I love your reflection shots, Derrick. Good thing we don’t have baby donkeys on our roads, I’d be inclined to bring one home. 🙂
Me too 🙂
Now there’s an idea, Jill. Many thanks
I somehow think HG would disagree…
Correct, Paul
Crockers Clump. I believe I read that it was the location of a donkey race in the in the late 19th century which was won by Old Crocker, a donkey with a limp.
🙂 Nice one, Susanne
I can’t tell the difference between the back, or front, garden, they both seem to have a lot of stuff growing in them. Lovely shot of the late summer sky, brought back happy memories. of winter in Melbourne. Smart baby donkey, exercising his right like that.
The Stygian pool reminded me that I shall soon be crossing it’s mighty river.
Thanks a lot, Brian. Not too soon, I hope.
Goodness me. He even piggybacks on your blog to throw nasturtiums at Melbourne’s weather. Anyway I love the majesty of tall dark clouds. And the solanum – do you call that a potato vine?
Google says we do. I hadn’t known that. Thanks, Paol
I believe they are in the same family.
Makes sense when you look at them
Always enjoy your country jaunts, especially the donkeys today.
Thanks very much, Ivor
I like the heather hillock. The little donkey is endearing as well.
Thanks very much, Lisa. As we drove past that hillock, a number of ponies were grazing on the sides, giving a splendid terraced effect down to the pool. By the time Jackie had parked and I had returned, they had all come up on the level, so I settled for the tree.
He is a strapping young donkey! Importantly, he is free from the bondage of mortgages etc. Beautiful images as ever.
🙂 Thanks very much, Uma
Is the “green sprouting” broccoli something like this?
goo.gl/8H9vca
Exactly so, Yvonne. Thanks a lot
I prefer brussel sprouts to broccoli, although the latter is nice blanched and added to a salad.
Me too
Since I first saw them on one of your posts I have tracked down the pink honeysuckle and hope to see them flower in my garden.
That’s lovely, Mary. Many thanks
I’m glad that they leave old trees. It does wonders for our ever decreasing populations of woodpeckers, especially the Lesser.
Yes. Apparently commoners once had the right to remove one third of the trees, but that is no longer the case. Thanks, John
Your stories are so fun. “beneath a heather covered hillock at Crockers Clump”. It’s like reading something by Virginia Woolf 😀 That little donkey certainly has some wild bed head! Do you know this term in the UK. It’s when you wake with crazy messy hair! I’m sure *you* never do ;D Also, any animal that wants to eat up thistle is a pal in my books. We have ‘Canada Thistle’ and it’s super invasive and sharp and prickly. It’s almost impossible to get rid of. Go Donkey go! Cheers, Boomdee
Many thanks, Boomdee. Oh, I do wake up with bed head 🙂
Wonderful photos. Kudos to your gardener for cleaning. Animals walking freely among the populace still amazes me. Exactly when is it okay to remove fallen trees. I mean, if I was stuck under one…oh, never mind, I know the answer. ‘Goodbye, cruel world!’ 😉
Many thanks, Steve
Hope that sweet little donkey makes it to adulthood! From what you have posted, I take heart in that the drivers really do seem to watch out for the animals.
Thanks very much, from me and the donkey, Laurie
I’ve never heard the very appealing verse about Crockers Clump—thanks, Bruce!
The fallen tree
like a ballerina
rests with grace
Many thanks, Rosaliene. Nice comment
darn, but that has to be the most precious sight in the world, that baby donkey….just wanna bring it home and love it up <3
🙂 Many thanks, Kim
Wonderful…the subjects, the photography, the captions, the comments
All of it…wonderful…
Many thanks, smz. I like your poetry, too
We were out in The Forest on Weds. and Thurs., and there seemed to be donkey foals in evidence everywhere. Near Beaulieu, there was a pair like this, the mother (or, at least, adult) chewing away in the hedge, not causing any traffic problems, and a baby semi-oblivious to the enormous queues both ways.
For the first time, I saw a piebald donkey, sandy with whitish patches.
Thanks, Paul. There certainly are lots of young donkeys about. We have seen piebald ones, but we probably spend more time looking.
Can I start a minor furore about the plural of clematis? By most Latin standards, it should be clemates, with the last -es as a separate syllable. Perhaps it looked too confuseable with a sexually-transmitted disease to gain acceptance among the horticulturentsia? 😉
Either clematis or clematises seems to be acceptable. Thanks, Paul
Otra vez un post excelente. ¡Apalusos!
Thanks very much, Walter
Do all babies eat so much? I am foster-caring for a four month old kitten and this is his main desire in life beside racing all about and clawing upholstery! Might rather have a donkey foal.
Many thanks, Cynthia. I’d prefer the donkey. I think Poppy does eat more than most
Sweet baby donkey!
Thanks very much, Inese
“I am sure that the Head Gardener would wish to have it pointed out that she swept this area later.”
She’d probably prefer to have it pointed out that YOU swept the area later. 🙂
This warranted a chuckle and “It would help”. Thanks, friend Quercus
My pleasure. 🙂
A beautiful trip to the forest, and I always love to see the donkeys and ponies. It is still hot and dry here. I love these photos with lush green.
Thanks very much, Lavinia.