Ecological Contributions

Mum was on very good form when we visited her at Woodpeckers at midday. Her thoughts and stories flowed and her hearing and sight were not too bad. We could forgive her for repeating some tales. Her one and only flight to Jersey with Jacqueline some years ago was a new one.

From Brockenhurst we continued along Rhinefield Road to the Ornamental Drive which, Easter Holidays still in progress, was visited by

plenty of walkers and cyclists.

Some families remained at Blackwater car park with its picnic benches and where the delighted cries of children playing among the trees syncopated with melodious birdsong. Of course, when occupied with ice lollies, this little group had no capacity for shrieking.

While Jackie waited patiently in the Modus, I focussed on reflections in and ripples on the stream; tangled, exposed, tree roots; the trunk of one giant redwood, and shadows of others.

Moving further along the road, my Chauffeuse parked on the verge while I wandered among dry, rustling, autumn leaves, bracken and pony droppings; fallen, decomposing, timber; and lichen coated twigs, each making their own

contribution to the refurbishment of the forest floor.

Some of the dead trees are taking a number of years to disintegrate, and there is quite a range of colours in the blending and contrasting animals.

For dinner this evening Jackie produced tangy lemon chicken with her wholesome savoury egg fried rice. We both drank more of the Sauvignon Blanc.

75 comments

  1. The exposed roots and decaying trees, leaves and so on contrast with the seeming placid munching of the ponies and the activities of all the visitors. Nature works to its own clock.

  2. Happy to hear that Mum was in good form today.
    When I enlarged one of the “Pony in Landscape” images, the animals eyes looked closed and he in rapture with his fodder. And the white pony seemed to be to be the start of a young adult novel. (I believe I’ve told you in the past that your pictures could very easily be prompts for stories!!)
    👍😉

  3. So glad to hear your mum is doing well. It must be really great to visit her. We haven’t seen Chris’s mum for almost two years. 🥲 I love all of your pony shots. They’re such beautiful creatures.

  4. I love this juxtaposition. “Some families remained at Blackwater car park with its picnic benches and where the delighted cries of children playing among the trees syncopated with melodious birdsong. “

  5. As I walk through the woods near us. each season I notice the fallen tree branches – some huge, some smaller – and notice how they decompose and smoosh into the ground after each rain/snow/heat of summer. Life’s replenishment, indeed. Gorgeous photos of wood and animal. xo

  6. OH!!! I’m so so SO happy you got to spend some time with your beautiful Mum! What precious times you have with her…and the memories made will stay with you forever! 🙂
    Beautiful day to commune with nature and your photos share this beauty! Especially good to see families and children having fun! 🙂
    The ponies look so healthy and attentive! Love the one of the pony with his tongue peeping out. 😀
    Of course, I always love your tree photos, your reflection photos, and your light and shadows photos! 🙂 The well-weathered, well-seasoned tree “skin” is so textured, artistic even!
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

  7. I’m so happy to hear your mother is doing well, Derrick. That’s wonderful news. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos today! I love the shot of the children relaxing under the tree.

  8. I think this is one of your best series, Derrick. I loved the little girl showing how much of her ice she had eaten is shows the gnarled old trees in such contrast.

  9. I too am thankful that your mom is doing well. The beautiful ponies seem different than most. Their earthy colors and textures complement the landscape and decaying trees. I also like the roots and fallen tree over the water.

  10. glad to know that your Mom is doing fine. another set of wonderful photos, Derrik. my favorite is the cute little ones by the tree trunk! i wonder what they’re talking about 🙂 🙂

  11. Great minds again: my husband got us Sauvignon Blanc for tomorrow night as we plan to attempt to persuade the youngest granddaughter that crunchy fried fish is also a schnitzel, but a fishy one. This is just the right wine for it.
    I am glad to hear that your mother continues doing well. I hope someone in the family is recording her stories for the future generations.
    Fabuous reflection photos, Derrick, as well as the intertwining tree trunks and roots.

  12. I very much enjoyed seeing the forest and ponies, Derrick and Jackie! I see a “mouse dun” colored pony in there, brown strip down the back and frosted brown main and tail. I had a pony that color once, her coat was more silvery-grey with a brown stripe. Her name was Spring Frost.

  13. It is so lovely to hear how buoyant your mother is, with her happy memories and tales.
    The New Forest ponies continue to surpass themselves in the ‘beauty of the day’ front!
    They, and the Forest itself, are such grounding reminders of how nature and the cycle of life works so unfathomably well when allowed to.
    Happy days, seeing the children on Easter Holiday enjoying the spring sunshine as they rest and regroup 🙂

  14. I’m so glad your mother was in good form yesterday during your visit. That’s good news.

    The photos of the trees, roots, forest floor or wonderful, but I really enjoyed the ponies in the forest set. Some of them look like they’ve magically appeared there, and there is such a wide range of poses and faces–the grey one giving you the eye, the brown one looking goofy with its tongue out, and the white one, obviously nobility. 😏

    1. A lovely post, Laurie – but, then, I would say that, wouldn’t I? Thank you for the mention. Jackie says she should bring her owls in over winter, but gets away with not doing so. Some of them also have solar lights. You will know that she also has dragons in the Dragon Bed. I liked the Sara Kays video and certainly hear the similarity to Joni Mitchell.

  15. I never tire of seeing those ponies. Your closeups of their mane and tongues are such fun! The woodpecker ridden tree was fun to see, too. I’m so glad you and Jackie are getting out and about, Thank you for sharing, {{{Derrick}}}. Have a great weekend. <3

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