Comparative Fly-Whisks

Jackie and I took an early forest drive this morning on which

may blossom, like this on Beaulieu Hill, has now followed blackthorn onto the hedgerows.

Opposite this sample we spotted a foal on the verge with a group of ponies.

Ruefully comparing her stubby little tail with her mother’s extensive fly-whisk she clung to the Dam’s flanks, frequently attempted to suckle, scratched with her hoof, and eventually settled seated on the daisy sprinkled sward,

which they kept at manageable length.

A young robin made use of the shadows for camouflage until taking to flight when I approached too near.

Yesterday I had not placed titles correctly on the flower gallery, but did so this afternoon when I also posted

these photographs of sections of the garden, photographed from upstairs windows, at the request of prolific blogger friend Judy Dykstra-Brown.

This evening we all dined on oven cod, chips, and onion rings; fried red tomatoes; green garden peas; pickled onions and gherkins, with which Jackie drank more of the Pinot Grigio and I drank Vineyards Zesty white wine.

69 comments

  1. The garden looks LOVELY from upstairs! The foal waving its stubby tail about reminds me of baby elephants learning to use their wobbly trunks 🙂

  2. And thanks so much for the photos of your garden. It is lush and lovely and so well-groomed! I hadn’t seen it yet when I wrote about the colt. Do you ever do garden tours through your amazing grounds? A shame not to. Guess that’s what you are doing today. Again, thanks so much.

    1. We always welcome individuals and small groups, and one painter has spent days here, but the open gardens schemes carry more responsibility than we can contemplate. Thanks again, Judy

  3. Isn’t that foal adorable. Will it stay that color as it grows?
    Judy had a great idea to photograph the garden from up high. Very impressive!

    1. Thank you very much, GP. I think the foal’s colour is likely to change

  4. Late spring seems to be moving right along into summer now. Gardens and forest scenes reflecting the warmth and beauty of the transition.

    Those little foal tails are not much use at swatting flies, but those long sturdy legs certainly make good scratchers! 🙂

      1. Headline in New Forest Times: “Riddle of missing businessman deepens. Last seen entering local man’s garden. Intensive search unsuccessful. No suspicion of foul play. Police to resume search at dawn.”

          1. I see. I’ve been dealing with computers for 50 years now, but seem to become ever more complicated. LOL. Thank you Derrick.

  5. One never tires of your daily (?) rides in a wonderful nature. That foal is so lovely.
    I wonder whether the horses get paid to keep the lawn perfectly mowed? ????
    And your garden is in full bloom again… Splendid.

    1. Thank you very much, Brian. They and the donkeys also do a good line in hedge trimming

  6. Your garden certainly looks especially impressive from above, and the photos of the grey foal have enlivened my morning Derrick

  7. Amazing the connections our minds make. When I read ‘fly whisks’ my first thought was of Nessim and Narouz in the Alexandria Quartet, carrying around their fly whisks in their country place.

  8. It must be special to be able to see a foal up close li e that. Your garden is stu i g i as always. A d you may be wo deri g if I hit the sauce, but for some reaso my keyboard is giving me troubles.

    1. It looks as if some letters e.g. n need more pressure. Thanks very much, Alys

  9. What a pleasure to see the little foal. There were a couple in the fields opposite my place but when I eventually ventured over the lane with my camera they’d been moved to fresh grazing in a field too far back to photograph.

  10. Oh! What a sweet little foal!
    Aw! What a cute little robin!
    Life can be ever changing and often challenging for the little ones in our world! I wish them well!
    Great photos…all of them, Derrick! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) 🙂 ❤️❤️ 🙂

  11. I enjoyed watching your garden and your travels, and never tire of the ponies.
    As someone who is impatient with flies and mosquitoes, I think I’d like a tail like that

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