This morning Nick completed his painting of the garden room and vacuumed and tidied everything, as he always does.
After lunch Jackie drove me into the forest.
As I walked down the slope from Wilverley Road to capture the views of Longslade Bottom, its landscape festooned with ponies, foals, and dog walkers
I noticed buttercups and daisies on the lush verges and blackberry blossom and ferns flanking the stony tracks produced by generations of wildlife.
At the corner of the dog-rose-lined Armstrong Lane on the approach to Brockenhurst a small group of ponies including a leggy foal and their short limbed Shetland acolyte grazed among glowing buttercups; while another group preferred to shelter in the dappled shade. Perhaps the couple in the last image, prone to weird moaning sounds and a certain amount of head butting, were engaged in some kind of unrequited courtship ritual.
On the bridge over the ford at Brockenhurst a group of amused tourists photographed ponies on the road.
Along Meerut Road a woman approached a small highland cow, and seemingly oblivious of this bovine, stood beside it photographing the landscape and pointing out something of interest to her male companion.
I wandered over to a pony and foal and discovered that some small corvine creatures had found rich pickings at the equine hoofs.
This evening we all dined on Becky’s flavoursome savoury rice; succulent chicken Kiev; fresh salad; and tomatoes with mozzarella and basil. Jackie, our daughter, and son-in-law drank Rosé Prosecco; I drank Château Sainte-Clotilde Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2018; and Flo abstained.
Lovely landscape and the newly painted Garden view bedroom is just as lovely.
Thank you very much, Pat
The landscape there is very beautiful, Derrick! Cute critters too. ❤️🇬🇧
Thank you very much, John
A lovely selection of photos. The garden room looks great. I like pony courting couple.
Thank you very much, Merril
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Glad that Nick finished your Garden Room. It looks great. The portrait of the blaze faced foal is wonderful.
Thanks very much, Maj
Buttercups and daisies ! Do you remember the old custom of holding a buttercup under somebody’s chin to see if the yellow reflected on the skin? If the chin did shine yellow, I’m sure that that meant something, although I’ve unfortunately forgotten exactly what!
It meant they liked butter, John. Thanks very much
Yes!
I love the 6/11 image of the beautiful foal and its gorgeous expression.
I also enjoyed seeing the black ponies, Sophie as a teenager had a black 14.2 pony named Black Magic, he was a brilliant show jumper; sadly he died suddenly of a stomach problem.
Thanks very much, Sue. The black ponies seem to be rare in the forest.
Super series of photos Derrick
Thanks very much, Sheree
I liked the picture of the lady ignoring the Highland cow. I enjoyed the pictures of the open heath. I think that that is my favourite sort of countryside.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal. I have a message from Lavinia. Here’s my e-mail: derrickjknight@btinternet.com. I don’t know how to find yours.
I have sent you an email.
I had to look twice to see if the children’s slide was in you garden. 😉
Paint job over. Will there be new carpet or other floor coverings before you put the furniture back?
I wouldn’t think it would be a good idea to get that close to a cow.
Lovely photos.
I thought exactly the same thing about the lady approaching the long-horned cow.
🙂 I don’t think we could fit it in, Chrissy. The cattle are all pretty harmless. Thanks very much
I particularly like the blackberries and ferns.
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
So many beautiful photos today, Derrick. Thanks for sharing!
Much appreciated, Jill
Beautiful pictures today.
Thanks very much, Bridget
I have slotted your ‘golden fern’ photo into my ‘Derrick File’ of images, … it seems to have captured my imagination Derrick ..
I’m pleased, Ivor. Thank you very much
Wonderful that the painting is done! Those ponies must be quite the draw. That little one is pretty darned cute.
Thank you so much, Laurie
Another beautiful day in nature!
Thank you very much, Ribana
The equine gallery is rich and varied. Meerut Road is an interesting name for the locality.
In the First World War, Brockenhurst hosted the Lady Hardinge Hospital for Wounded Indian Soldiers. The name Meerut Road recalls the Indian troops of the Meerut and Lahore Divisions who fought on the Western Front in the war and were patients at Brockenhurst. Specialist sections were also established in the Balmer Lawn and Forest Park Hotels.
The hospital was later transferred to the New Zealand Army and, as No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital, continued in use until 1919. Auckland Avenue and Auckland Place commemorate the stay of the New Zealanders. (Wikipedia) Thanks very much, Uma
You’ve outdone yourself again, Derrick. The landscapes are quite lovely and those are the most adorable foal photos I’ve ever seen.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Glad your room is done. Beautiful pictures.
Thank you very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
As varied and beautiful as your photographs are, I particularly enjoy the golden fern glowing in the sunlight.
Thank you very much, Anne
Rich pickings, indeed! 🙂
All lovely photos!
I especially like the two ponies (the couple) standing together on the side of the road. Apparently trying to work out some stuff. 😉
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn X
Excellent photos! The garden room is looking great ! So cute small flowers and the landscape 😊🌹
Thank you very much, Priti
It’s pleasure of mine stay blessed ❣️💕
The pictures are excellent today, Derrick.
Can you explain what I’m seeing outside the garden window?
Thanks very much, GP. Most of that shot is next doors garden featuring ahed and climbing frame.
Thank you.
I love the pictures of the horses in the wide landscape.
And the highland cow is very cute!
Thanks very much, Rabirius
Did he empty your vacuum cleaner?
He brought his own. Thanks a lot, Andrew
Lovely pictures of landscape and I feel you and Jackie are going to truly enjoy your newly remodeled garden room.
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Oh, my goodness – the foal looking over its shoulder and tossing it’s mane – with the eyelashes! SO adorable.
Thank you so much, Jodie
Oh, a wonderful poem! Just wonderful. That little foal doesn’t need false eyelashes. lol
Amazing photos.
Thanks very much, Eunice
How wonderful to be able to walk amongst the ponies and the flowers.
Thank you both very much, Mostly Mondays
that was so fun, the woman and the shaggy bovine, I wonder did her friend take a photograph – and how will she explain the situation!
Good questions, Catherine
Thank you very much, Mobster