Poisonous To Them

On a much cooler and overcast morning Jackie drove me into the forest.

The water tubs at the start of Sowley Lane had been refilled, and we saw another on St Leonard’s Road.

Barley fields on either side of Tanner’s Lane are producing fine crops, perhaps a little early.

Against the backdrop of the Isle of Wight the Solent gently rippled with choppy waves slipping over the grating shingle beach.

Plants clinging to the ancient stone walls of St Leonard’s Granary, and the sweep of sward outside the grange were beginning to die back, although the no doubt well irrigated lavender borders remained bright.

The pool alongside the Grange where we often see groups of ponies drinking was becoming very dry. The close-up of the marsh ragwort was produced by Jackie.

The ponies and foals gathered together further along St Leonard’s Road know instinctively to avoid the familiar yellow plants which are poisonous to them.

This afternoon the clouds were swept away from the garden as the sun brought back the heat. Later Flo watered and dead-headed; Jackie planted, watered, and dead-headed; I just dead-headed – quite a lot.

This evening we dined on succulent roast chicken; crisp Yorkshire pudding; boiled new potatoes; crunchy carrots; firm cauliflower and broccoli; tender green beans; and tasty gravy, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden, Flo drank mixed fruit cordial, and I finished the Cabernet Sauvignon.

66 comments

  1. I hope your heatwave abates soon, Derrick. The home with the lavender on either side of the driveway is beautiful! I feel bad for the animals, they don’t have many options to stay cool.

  2. My sister used to be a flight attendant. When any airline employees catch a free ride somewhere and are not working, I think it is called deadheading. Sounds more fun than cutting off dear flowers and leaves in the heat. 🥀🥀🥀

  3. Sad about the drought. Man causes it no doubt. I have little sympathy left for humanity when everyone is seemingly ignoring the future of the planet.

  4. That lavender is really beautiful. I can remember years ago going to Norfolk and the road going between fields of lavender, and the smell was absolutely stunning.

  5. It is strange to see the ragwort growing where the horse are. In Australia we are told that it is particularly noxious to horses. If it is cut and ends up in bales of hay the smell that makes horse avoid it fades and they will eat it. It harms the liver and can eventually cause death. Also it is often confused with St John’s wort which is used in alternative medicine.

    1. The fields used for hay are always treated with weed killer before hay making season begins, therefore its very unlikely that ragwort would be present amongst the bales.

  6. Those lavender borders are just so lush and stunning. Gorgeous. I just love the little foal with the white dot who can’t take his eye off of you. He’s looking into the camera in almost every photo!

  7. I’m glad the clouds gave you a break from the heat. The light brown foal who keeps look at you is handsome. It’s interesting how that window or door of the ruins stands strong and tall in spite of all the years and weather.

  8. The foals are growing up, and more in proportion to their long legs!

    The barely fields are beautiful, and remind me of the song “Fields of Gold”

    That lavender is a lovely shade of purple, and looks well watered.

  9. I was intrigued by your title and waited in anticipation to find where there poison was hiding – you’re so good at that. I find it interesting that the ponies avoid eating the ragwort and then from Paol Soren that the smell of the plant helps prevent the animals from eating what is noxious to them.

  10. Wonderful photos, Jackie and Derrick! 🙂
    I love seeing the tubs of water for the animals! They must endure a lot of stress in hot weather.
    The lavender is lovely! We have a lot of it growing wild in our neighborhood. 🙂
    Good to see the foals!
    Your barley fields photos are my faves today! 🙂 Gate to the Barley Field…love it! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) ❤️

  11. Beautiful photos, as always, Derrick (and Jackie). The heat and dryness makes some of the area look autumnal, and the lavender and green certainly stand out.
    I like how the yellow poisonous flowers add a glow to the pony and foals photos.

    It’s been so green here, but it’s starting to look a bit brown. We have an extreme heat advisory and air quality alert for the weekend.

  12. I love that barley field photo – brings me back to my days in California’s central valley. And of course, the ponies and foals always intrigue me. I would not have known what a “grating shingle beach” is if we had not experienced it with you. Quite unique! You had a varied and busy day. Good luck with all that dead-heading, Derrick & Jackie!

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