This afternoon of an overcast day, slowly brightening with brief sunny periods we visited Ferndene Farm Shop to purchase salad items, eggs, and vegetables to accompany this evening’s second sitting of Jackie’s excellent cottage pie. These were carrots, cauliflower, and beans which would be cooked to perfection, and accompanied by Hoegaarden and more of the Malbec, consumed by the usual suspects.
Before we could properly leave Downton, we followed a pleasant equestrienne pair to Silver Street and a couple of defensive cyclists ensuring we could not safely pass them along Vaggs Lane.
Jackie parked at Smugglers Road Car Park from where I wandered among the woodland photographing bracken, gorse, landscape, and the the gently overcast sky.
As requested, I kept to the main tracks, created by ponies. The amount of dog shit littered about suggested that some dog owners had also done so. As we were about to leave, two people, each with a pair of dogs, neither carrying poop bags set off to empty their animals. The man’s charges were immediately let off the lead.
Earlier, a pair of goldfinches had sought camouflage among the gorse.
While she waited, Jackie produced her own images of gorse.
On our departure, another pair of equestriennes gently ambled up the slopes.
At least the person emptying their dog at Abbots Well had the questionable decency to leave the results of the defecation in a poop bag, which did not faze the grazing pony.
Here, the clouds were parting a little more as I looked down on the landscape from the bordering woodland with its fallen trees, mossy roots, and little dog-tooth violets.
The aforementioned delicious dinner nicely rounded off the day.
Irresponsible behavior of some dog owners is very sad.
I like the composition of the cloud parting photo of the last set, with its triangle of tree branches in the bottom right corner. Very effective, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Dolly. I’m pleased that worked well
My pleasure, Derrick.
Beautiful scenes all outweigh the irresponsible behaviour of some dog owners!
Yes. Thanks very much, Anne
Wonderful selection of photos Derrick
Thanks very much, Sheree
?
Some dog owners are irresponsible…worldwide. Nothing worse than stepping in something and unable to remove it without smearing it everywhere.
Moving on now to more pleasant topics. I love the landscape no matter what time of year.
I’m pleased you like the landscapes, Chrissy. The main thing about the dog mess is its danger to children. That’s why I feature it occasionally. Thank you very much.
Those camouflaged Goldfinches, and the tiny violets are absolute jewels – such clear images, and amazing that you spotted the Goldfinches. Beautiful.
Thanks very much, Emma. I wasn’t sure what they were until I looked at the images in the camera. Most were out of focus 🙂
It is amazing how much more one sometimes sees when behind the lens – or even looking at the photos, post taking!
Yes
I volunteered at the Tide Pools at Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego. The tide pools trail was the only place dogs were allowed to be out of the car. People were supposed to clean up after their dogs. One woman had her nasty little dog defecate right by our main sign while I was busy with somebody else. They also smoked in the park, throwing butts everywhere. Of course, smoking wasn’t allowed.
I volunteered at the Tide Pools at Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego. The tide pools trail was the only place dogs were allowed to be out of the car. People were supposed to clean up after their dogs. One woman had her nasty little dog defecate right by our main sign while I was busy with somebody else. They also smoked in the park, throwing butts everywhere. Of course, smoking wasn’t allowed.
So many people disregard the environment and its other users
Correct. Sad isn’t it?
Indeed
Irresponsible dog owners are enough to give you the tom-tits. Grrrrr! Happens on the beach here too. Deep breath – well, not too deep. Beautiful scenery.
Thanks a lot, Gwen
Beautiful photos, Derrick. I love the yellow gorse. Ugh…I can’t stand when dog owners don’t pick up the poop!
Thanks very much, Jill
The gorse is sensational.
It is very bright at the moment, Mr T. Thanks very much
Gorgeous photos, Jackie and Derrick! 🙂
I love seeing that sign to remind people not to disturb the birds and their babies. Such an important thing we can do for them.
Love, always, your sky photos and your tree photos!
Those little violets are like finding a treasure! 🙂
Oh, weird and not nice people not cleaning up their doggie’s poohs…and then to leave a bag of pooh…even weirder. That poor horse is thinking, “What’s that awful smell!” 😉
Reminds me of taking a group of school children to a pig farm AND then a dairy farm in the same day. I was sure the cows were offended when we walked in smelling like Eau De Par-Porcine. 😛
(((HUGS))) 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Carolyn X
good eye, Derrick! the yellow-flowered shrub and camouflaged Goldfinches make up a lovely picture. beautiful photos as always 🙂
Thank you very much, Lola
I’m sorry you had to see the dog poop… and the bag of poop. That’s so crazy and inexcusable. Your photos are beautiful! I like the effect of the gray blurry background with the crisp foreground. I especially like the layers in the first woodland scene with the misty background.
Thank you so much, JoAnna
Lovely photos
It amazes me how some people don’t clean after their pets. But then i have to remember maybe they forgot.
That is a generous interpretation, More. Thank you very much
You’re welcome Derrick
Those trees the finches hid in are interesting.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
A beautiful selection of photos from you and Jackie! Seems you had dramatic skies along with a bit of sun here and there. The gorse is so beautiful!
The dog poop problem seems to be the same everywhere. Even the bag left behind is something one might well see here. People don’t realize that worms other parasites can be spread to other dogs this way.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. The dog poop parasites cause blindness in children, too
Yes, I remember reading that some parasites that end up in the wrong host can end up in strange places in the body.
If I was Prime Minister I wouldn’t let people keep dogs until they have passed a ‘responsibility test’.
Good idea – thanks a lot, Andrew
In Cornwall dog owners are well on the way to wrecking a nature reserve near Hayle which caters for plants capable of living in a low mineral, very poor soil. The dog poo breaks down and adds a huge variety of minerals to the soil and the purpose of the reserve is thereby completely defeated.
Thanks very much, John. So annoying
I love the header photo of the goldfinches perched in the gorse! My favorite out of the group has to be the first Woodland scene. As soon as I opened it up, I found myself standing there with the soft earth beneath my feet inhaling the redolent smells of the woods. Bravo!
Thank you everso, Liz. Much appreciated
You’re most welcome, Derrick.
I wonder why the dog owners left the poop bag. The poop is biodegradable, but the bag is not.
Probably couldn’t be bothered to bin it. Not an unusual occurrence. Thanks a lot, GP
Laziness.
Yep
How I love goldfinches. They have returned to our birdfeeder after leaving for the winter (I don’t blame them) and can’t camouflage in any way. They are bright yellow against the brown seed and always so cheerful! Irresponsible dog owners make me the opposite of cheerful. Fascinating to me that in both of our countries, dog owners pick up their dog’s poop in a bag and then leave the bag on the ground! Nonsense the world over, it seems.
Thanks very much, Pam. When I lived in London the filled bags were thrown in the gutter for the roadsweepers to pick up
Huh, surprised they got away with doing that. Must be a better way!
Yes, indeed. There were bins for it.
I agree with Andrew.
It’s disgusting to leave behind dog mess with or without a bag. I imagine it’s because the dog owner dislikes the ‘inconvenience’ of carrying around the bag of poop.
Perhaps the pet shops should begin selling small back packs for dogs designed especially for carrying their own dog poop bags to the nearest bin. ?
Even that would be too much trouble for some, Sue. Thanks very much
What a beautiful top picture!
Thanks very much, Laurie
A beautiful post Derrick! The black horse is really beautiful. You would think if they took the time to bag it up that they would take it along and dispose of it! Very thought less!
Quite. Thanks very much, Dwight
:>)
I love the bright gorse against the dark clouds.
That’s horrible about the irresponsible dog owners. There’s no way they can not know that they’re supposed to clean up after their pets.
Lovely about the farm fresh food. I’m waiting for farm stands around here to reopen.
Thank you very much, Merril
I didn’t spot them at first, against the gorse. Lovely images, as ever.
Thank you very much, Libre
Oh don’t get me onto the topic of dog poo droppers…
I can’t help mentioning it occasionally. Mostly I manage to leave it out of the blog. Thanks very much, Lindsey