I began the day with a dead-heading session in the garden.
The mystery of yesterday’s lost clematis was solved on this less sunny morning. Today there was no bright backlighting fooling us with the strong red hues, and even giving a green hue to the Gothic arch. The plant is in fact Star of India. And yesterday we had been both perfectly sober.
This afternoon we drove to Ferndene Farm Shop to buy three more bags of compost and, naturally a few plants. We continued on into the forest.
The Highland cattle were back alongside Rhinefield Road outside Brockenhurst.
Jackie parked in Blackwater car park at the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive and left me to walk along a footpath through the
Douglas firs which have their own explanatory carved wooden plaque and sculpted pine cone.
Apart from a couple at the picnic table; the occasional cyclist or car on Rhinefield Road; and the couple for whom I stepped aside as I returned to the car,
it was just me with the thrushes for company,
as I walked along the sanded footpath with its ferns, felled and fallen trees, and pine cones carpeting the floor.
I did imagine I had seen a deep sea fish somewhat out of it element, but it turned out to be the shallow roots of a once upright young forest giant.
I had managed 27 minutes unchaperoned walk, my speed rapidly decreasing towards the end.
We could easily forgive the pony fondly watching over her sleeping foal for blocking our path at Bashley.
This evening we dined on succulent chicken Kiev; Jackie’s savoury rice; crisp cauliflower and baby sweetcorn; and tender green beans. The Culinary Queen drank Blue Moon while I finished the Shiraz.
The greenery in the woodland photos is beautiful, Derrick. Love the animal pics … I’m particularly fond of cattle. 🙂
Thank you very much, Lesley
Beautiful photos, Derrick. And the sleeping foal 💕💕💕💕
Thank you very much, Amanda
Derrick, love the picture of the Highland cattle. Have a great weekend.
You, too, Sheree. Thanks very much
so wonderful
Thanks very much, Yvette
I just left a more detailed comment – love the “f” alliteration
I love the last photo.
Thanks very much, Sylvie
You are very welcome Derrick
🙂
I am much relieved Jackie’s reputation remains intact! The mama watching over her foal is beautiful <3
Thank you very much, Pauline.
Wow! I’ve never seen a Highland cattle. That would be a treat to see one in the wild. Great photos!
Thanks very much, Jill. There are a few in the forest
Laughing at the sober line
– smiles at this beautiful sentence: ferns, felled and fallen trees
And the momma looking over baby – ahhhh
Thank you very much, Yvette. I’m pleased you liked that
Oh great photos.
Have a lovely weekend
You too Cinnamon. Many thanks
Congratulations on your walk; not only on rough ground but unchaperoned too.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal. In truth it was probably ten minutes too long. Never mind. OK today
#1 perfectly sobe is very nearly an oxymoron. #2I really love the forest. #3 Those Highland cattle looked very much in their element.
Thanks very much X3, Paol
What a sweet picture of the pony and her foal.
Thank you very much, BCM
Love the cow. “Muckle coo” is one of the few Scottish terms I brought home with me from our visit there.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Leslie
I love the ferns and all this texture in your photos. The deep sea fish reminds me of an alien life form. How exciting! 🙂
Thanks very much, JoAnna. I googled it and found a number of different ones that could fit
The mystery unfolds itself as the Star of India! Mr Cow (or is he Mr Buffalo?) needs a haircut badly. The walk through Rhinefield Park is mesmeric.
Thank you very much, Uma. I sometimes wonder how some of these creatures can see.
What a lovely afternoon walk.
Thanks very much, Sue. Painful, but I gotta do it
I can imagine that!
Everyday seems quite fantastic there. Gardens and ponies, plant mysteries and gorgeous forests too. All washed down with a Shiraz. You must sleep well 😀 I sure would. Cheers xK
Cheers to you, too, Kelly
I liked the way you qualified your state of sobriety in the second paragraph – ‘yesterday’ 😉
I suspected the backlighting of the Star of India was part of the identification problem!
Wonderful imagination with the deep-sea fish. 🙂
My favourite photos of a wonderful bunch were the Highland cattle, the thrush amongst the pinecones, and of course, the mother and her sleeping foal. 🙂
Very many thanks, Bob. Much appreciated
Excellent woodland pictures Derrick.
Thanks very much, Andrew
I really love this type of scenery. Makes me want to go for a walk right now…
That’s good, Helen. Many thanks
On my walk right now!
🙂
Lovely photos–and commentary! The highland cattle are certainly different–I thought of yaks. I love the photo of the mother horse watching over her sleeping foal.
It looks like you had a wonderful walk. It is hot and steamy here.
Thanks very much, Merril. Pretty humid here, too
Great pictures today, Derrick. Doesn’t the Highland cattle look as though they are a combination of breeds or have genes from some ancient animal?
I’m glad you told us the foal was sleeping!!
I do hope the foal was sleeping – but that is how they all do. I think those cattle are very ancient. Thanks very much, GP
Mystery solved! Yay! And what a beautiful walk in the woods.
Thanks very much, Laurie – serious recovery begins 🙂
More fabulous photos. I do like the Highland Cattle. And how did those firs get there? Did someone plant them many moons ago? Are they Asian or Western North American? Or are they distributed in northern Europe as well? It’s fascinating to learn how trade in plants began–pretty much with explorers bringing them home. I imagine this started with a pine cone…
Thanks very much, Lisa https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/tall-trees-trail-walk-blackwater-p1474421
This is so fascinating! The 1850s. Thanks for the link.
Lovely pictures. We had leftovers for supper
Thanks very much, Mrs W. We quite often have leftovers
Your welcome. There are nights I love to cook and others not as much lol
Derrick – good for you with that big walk! That’s how you get it all back. Thank you for taking us along.
LOVE that momma looking over her sleeping babe. I have learned from your similar photos that those babies sprawl out as though dead anywhere they please. I’ll admit the first few times I saw such a scene I was concerned.
It troubled us at first, too, Jodie. Just like human babies really. Thanks very much
Mom was probably listening to see if her foal was still breathing. LOL I don’t know how many times I did that!
Indeed
Thanks for the wonderful tour. I must ask, is the Blue Moon a beer? I’m familiar with it as a beer in the States. Familiar but not fond…😊
Thanks very much, Steve. It is the US equivalent of the Belgian Hoegaarden. Not my brew, either
Some folks love it. I bought a 6 pack once, opened a bottle, took a swig and tossed the rest down the sink. Probably could have used it on the garden but I didn’t know. Just wanted to get rid of it. 🙀
🙂
Kids, they run and run, and then they drop! 😀
🙂 Thanks very much, Widders
Love all the photo descriptions, very enlightening
Thanks a lot, Brian
“Mom watching over her sleeping foal”- so sweet and lovely!
Beautiful capture!!
Thank you very much, Amy
Looks like you had a good day and nice walk. Good for you.
Thanks very much, Gary
Those are beautiful photos, Derrick. The sleeping foal is especially sweet.
Thank you very much, Lavinia
Glad the mystery was solved! 🙂
Love that impressive horn-y-Highland-er!
That photo of the protective mom and sleeping baby brought tears to my eyes.
Way to go on your walk! Good job, Derrick! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn X
A good meal after a good walk. It sounds ideal.
Thank you very much LL/PS
Ah, another clematis. <3 The Star of India is a star, indeed! Look at those richly indulgent colours on the arch. Douglas Fir!! You walked through Doug Fir and Redwoods, as though you were right here with me in the Pacific Northwest. I believe you have written about this walk before, but I had forgotten.
Thanks very much, Crystal. You are entitled to forget a few. 🙂 I have featured this Ornamental Drive several times, but only walking through it once, about 5 years a go