Power was returned to Elizabeth’s home during the night. After lunch she returned to sort things out then join us for dinner before settling back into Burnt House Lane.
Our storms seem to be over, and we enjoyed a much brighter afternoon when we shopped at Ferndene then continued on a forest drive.
Along Lyndhurst Road
A newly broken tree prompted me to disembark beneath Lucy Hill and explore this microcosm of forest ecology. Storm Franklin could not uproot this small oak, but it was strong enough to shatter the trunk and leave it standing where it will stay until it gradually disintegrates.
Previous skeletal remains are never far from each new casualty
gradually returning to the soil from whence it sprang years before.
Another giant, clearly hollowed with age has received it last push to crash to the ground, breaking up already dead timber.
The mossy roots and sturdy trunk of this large oak seem firm enough, but one long branch now leans against it.
Shadows fell across the slopes of the hill.
Further along the road, also bearing shadows on its verges
a really massive fallen oak must have blocked the thoroughfare until really heavy vehicles left their tracks in the churned up mud. Trees still standing were reflected in the overnight rain pool beside the huge pat of rooted soil.
On our way home a pair of ponies crossed from the sunlit side of Rhinefield Road onto the more shady area.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s tasty sausages in red wine; creamy mashed potatoes; firm Brussels sprouts; and crunchy carrots and cauliflower, followed by mixed fruit crumble and ice cream. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden, Elizabeth finished the Toscana, and I drank more of the Douro.
Love the ponies and the shadows. You lyrical description really enhanced the post.
Love the ponies and the shadows. You lyrical description really enhanced the post.
Thank you very much, Pat
The storm has left a huge mess, wow! At least someone can get some firewood from the fallen trees.
Removal for firewood is forbidden on ecological grounds, John. Thanks very much
Those were serious storms! I’m glad you didn’t have serious damage. The post-storm golden light is shining on those ponies.
Thank you so much, Merril
I hope you will get a long respite from serious storms. I particularly like the backlit pony in #4/6.
Thanks very much, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Plenty of trees downed in the storms
Thanks a lot, Sheree
It is sad to see so much shattered growth, especially at a time when we need all the tree growth that we can get.
Yes. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
So glad the storms have given you all a break. Your photos of the damage and the clean up are a good documentation.
So glad Elizabeth got home…there’s no place like home. 🙂
Love the light and shadow photos…especially seeing the light and shadows playing on the road.
The oak trunk seems to have a face. 🙂
(((HUGS)))
Thank you so much, Carolyn. Yes, it does have a face X
Lots of mangled and fallen trees in your area Derrick, but I dare say, things could have been worse my friend … great to see things have settled down ..
Thanks very much, Ivor
Every area seems to have suffered from the storms and fallen trees during the past week.
In a year or so someone will make a tidy profit from the fallen trees near you once they’re seasoned, chopped and split into log burner size.
Removal of the wood is forbidden – on ecological grounds, Sue. Although, exceptionally some appears to be marked for sale. Thanks very much
Sausages in red wine sound like an interesting dish. Miam.
That storm really hit you guys…
I haven’t seen news on the UK. I hope the damage was limited. And no casualties hopefully.
It is sad to see any old tree torn to the ground isn’t it?
Enjoy the rest of the Douro
Thanks very much, Brian. There were a few casualties. All quite now
A lot of crying roots, it seems!
An apt thought, Sylvie. Thanks very much
🙂
I’m glad things are returning to equilibrium for the moment. I love the mosses.
Thanks very much, Lisa
I hope no ponies or other animals were injured or killed by falling trees. Any sign of Hattie and Hortense?
I agree, that golden post-storm light is beautiful.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. We haven’t been their way for a few days 🙂
You definitely could use a break from Mother Nature! Dinner sounds yummy.
Thanks very much, Jill
This reads like poetry and the images are artistic.
Thank you very much, Cindy
I so love those mossy roots and forest ponies. The old trunk definitely has some kind of face to go with the limbs. I can’t help but wonder if some of the broken trees might sprout new growth.
Sometimes they do, JoAnna. Thanks very much
Storms are so unpredictable and take an “axe” without even considering the fall out.
Do the forestry people plant new trees as others are lost…
They seem to let nature take its course, Catherine. Thanks a lot
Arboreal mayhem caused by the storms have been documented in detail and with a journalistic fervour. It is a specialised genre of photography of which you must be one of the prominent members on the entire planet.
Thank you so much, Uma
Those ponies always make me smile. We are waiting the next storm to his tomorrow. Never ending.
Good luck, Gary. Thanks a lot.
You must all be happy to see the end of your wild weather. 😊
Indeed. Thanks very much, AnneMarie
Lots of trees have blown over. Hope the weather is calmer in the days to come.
It seems so, Laurie. Thanks very much
So much to enjoy – mighty nature – and the shadows on the slope are my fav of the post
Thanks very much, Yvette. I will start on Bleak House soon
Oh I am glad to hear that and I am actually glad you didn’t get to it yet! Because I am just diving in and would love to be in sync a bit with you – because last year Trent and I waited far too long to read and it was after your posts
Anyhow – so excited to see what you share and it made my day to read that
Have a good day and hello to Jackie
Thanks again, Yvette.
That must have been some storm. Wow. And, once again you managed to make me hungry by your recital of dinner even though I had an adequate dinner… and it just reminded me that my leftovers from dinner at a restaurant with friends are still in my car! I’m off to retrieve them. Thanks….
Much appreciated, Judy. Pleased to act as a memory prompt
The backlit ponies make a beautiful show. “Previous skeletal remains are never far from each new casualty” takes me back to a visit to the Kruger National Park during a period of extreme drought when the veld was littered with skeletal remains of animals alongside carcasses of animals that had succumbed to the lack of food and water. A grim picture indeed. Both the trees you describe and those animals indeed return to enrich the earth – a fine example of the the circle of life.
Thank you so much, Anne. You have graphically continued the ecology theme
Very philosophical Derrick, I enjoyed the post. We don’t have ancient oak forests in Lincolnshire.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
Even the aftereffects of Nature’s wrath seem beautiful. Might that last pony be pregnant?
Thanks a lot, GP. She does look well-rounded
Storms like that can cause seroius damaged!
They have, Aletta. Thanks very much.
Forests are fascinating. Broken branches must be home to a lot of life. Lovely photos.
Yes – lots of insects and small animals appreciated the broken branches. Thanks very much, Lakshmi
Ooooohhh, mixed fruit crumble sounds fantastic, sorry I missed it. The might oak can take a lot of punishment. Will folks help themselves to fallen timber for firewood? I’ve heard of amateur carpenters who would collect fallen wood to make furniture.
Collecting the wood is no longer permitted, but I think some is sold. Thanks very much, Steve
Not permitted? Why is that?
Ecology
Meaning that they want the trees to decay and add back to the soil instead of removing and subsequently burning?
Yes. Also they are a boon for insect life and small animals.
And where do the ponies go during bad storms? Do they have housing?
No shelter for them but the forest, into which they disappear. Thanks very much, Steve
Nature showing off its power, never to be underestimated.
Indeed, Bridget. Thank you very much
Mother nature may spread her wrath by uprooting trees but it’s her way of nourishing the earth and the beginning of renewal.
Quite so, Eugi. Thanks very much
We noticed more fallen trees after Franklin than after the previous two storms. I do feel sad when I see these venerable trees sprawling on the ground. i am pleased Elizabeth has been able to go back to her home again.
Thank you so much, Clare
Oh wow! What a mess ⛈ The ponies seem to be happy the storm has passed too 😉
I think so – the ponies have been hiding for a few days. Thanks ver much, Ribana
Mother Nature, rearranging the furniture. 🙂
She certainly is. Thanks a lot, Widders
A study of shadows and reflection, with a few ponies livening the set.
Thank you very much, Dolly
The storm did a bit of damage, Derrick. While your storm was raging, we were away visiting a national game park. Today, we have had a brutal storm and the roads all flooded. There were branches and tree debris littering the road when I drove home.
That looks really bad. Thanks very much, Robbie
Just catching up — your storms seem to have done some pretty heavy damage — I hope spring wiil be kinder!
Thanks very much, Janet
Thanks, Derrick. I haven’t walked through or alongside a forest recently and your post brought me close.
I’m pleased, Cynthia. Thank you very much