Despite the still stiff breeze on this warm and generally overcast afternoon I was able to rake up leaves and clippings from the Shady Path and, with the contents of two trugfuls in the Rose Garden, add another used compost bag to the stack awaiting the next dump trip.
Afterwards Jackie and I took a forest drive.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society “Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) [introduced to UK in 1839] is a relative of the busy Lizzie, but reaches well over head height, and is a major weed problem, especially on riverbanks and waste land, but can also invade gardens. It grows rapidly and spreads quickly, smothering other vegetation as it goes.”
There is a fine crop of this, blending with spears of our native willow herb, swaying on the banks of a dried up stream normally running under Bockhampton Road.
While we drove along Braggers Lane later, a group of field horses on a hill attracted my attention. By the time I had changed my lens and disembarked once more, I had also attracted theirs.
The first two had thundered down towards me before I lifted my camera.
As the others joined in the welcoming committee I became aware of the muzzles and fly masks offering all round protection. The covering for eyes and ears were clearly to keep the flies at bay; maybe the muzzles were worn to prevent biting. The animal craning its neck in the last picture was scratching on a fencepost. Flies were perhaps not the only source of discomfort.
A long tailback on Holmsley Road was brought about by ponies and a foal three shades of grey and one of brown clustering together for protection from the traffic.
The wind having picked up considerably by the time we returned home, we found patio chairs and parasol downed; as we stubbornly took our drinks seated on two of the chairs we watched trees, shrubs, and plants bending sharply this way and that until we went back inside for our dinner which, with the addition of parathas and vegetable samosas, consisted of a second sitting of last night’s chicken jalfrezi meal. Jackie drank Zesty and I drank more of the Gran Selone.
Glad you were able to add ballast to your chairs outdoors for a while.
Nice one, Sherry 🙂 Thanks very much
It’s amazing how often plants and bugs are introduced to new areas, only to overrun them…
Yes, indeed, Dale. Thank you very much
My pleasure, Derrick
The Himalayan Balsam is a real pest as it has explosive seed pods and can spread very rapidly. It is very hard to get rid of it. (Try squeezing a seed pod if you find a ripe one. It is fun.)
Jackie told me about her fun with seed pods. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
All of the all round protection you shared about sounds good.
The equine were horsin’ around for you! (wink, wink) Fabulous photos of them, Derrick! 🙂
Again, those darn pesky flies being so darn pesky. UGHS.
I like that you two stubbornly took your drinks seated on two of the up-righted patio chairs. Wind be darned! Ha! 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks very much, Carolyn
Show the breeze you’ll not be tossed aside. ????
Beautiful animals!
Thanks very much, VJ
You are welcome
I love the pictures of the horses today, A good day for you.
Thanks very much, Sue. It is unusual to see horses on the move
It’s nice to see the horses protected from the flies and whatever else, darn pests! We have invasive species of plants here too, and a fish called an Asian Carp that is threatening our beautiful Great Lakes system.
Several years ago, the Zebra Mussels were very bad in the Great Lakes. Mandatory engine flushing and hull scrubbing was needed to try to stop the invasion, but they got into many lakes including the Great Lakes.
This happens all over the world I guess, Derrick.
I guess so, John. A different kind of interfering with nature. Thanks very much
You are welcome, Derrick.
The covering for eyes and ears to keep the flies at bay is a great way to get that all-round protection Dwight
Thanks very much, Ivor
They seem to be happy Derrick
Thank you for the beautiful photos. We don’t see horses here.
Much appreciated, Lakshmi
The Himalayan Balsam sounds quite prolific. Interesting photos of beautiful ponies. I’ve always been partial to grey horses, like that sweet foal, and I love vegetable samosas.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
I always think Indian meals taste better the second time around
Yes. Thanks very much, Sheree
Lovely photos of those horses, why do some have those mouth traps and eye coverings?
I think the muzzles are to stop biting, and the eye and ear coverings as protection from flies
Your first photograph of the grey foal and his white mother is really lovely.
Thank you so much, John
I am glad that you both sat outside despite the wind buffeting everything else. There is an interesting energy in the wind.
Thank you so much, Anne
The dilemma is what’s more interesting the images or the menu?
🙂 Thank you very much, Rupali
Beautiful photos of all the horses. I’m glad you held the chairs down long enough to sit and enjoy your garden for a bit.
Thank you so much, Merril
I’m with John Knifton on this one. I really like the header picture with the mother and foal. Beautiful animals.
Thank you so much, GP
I love the photo of the horses running, Derrick. So beautiful.
Thank you very much, Jill
I admire your persistence to have drinks on the patio despite a brisk wind. After all, no better place than a patio to enjoy drinks.
Many thanks, Laurie
Such glorious pictures, Derrick. It seems the horses were showing off in your photos.
Thank you very much, Eugi
My pleasure, Derrick.
I really enjoyed the horse photos, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Aletta
It has just occurred to me that you and Jackie are living reminders of Voltaire’s last advice in Candide to tend your own garden!!!!
Thanks very much, Judy
You need to put his advice in a sign over an arch over your garden pathway!!!!
The two horses running toward you are very handsome specimens!
Agreed. Thanks very much Liz
Beautiful pictures of the horses.
Thank you very much, Bridget
You’re so blessed to have such a gorgeous forest drive right there within minutes of your house. Thanks for sharing the beauty. :o) I can just see the two of you stubbornly taking your drinks seated outside and seated on two chairs watching trees, shrubs, and plants bending sharply … and marveling at their agility! Glad none of them toppled over on you!
Thank you very much, Jan
When we visited a recreation of Plymouth Plantation we learned that the native cattails, used extensively by the indigenous people here have been replaced by an invasive plant. I don’t know its name, but I had thought it was cattails at a distance until I learned otherwise.
Thank you very much, Elizabeth
The Himalayan balsam is stubborn and all too pervasive —they don’t yield to uprooting endeavours easily. The meeting with ponies was dramatic; there mask-clad faces lend them mysterious personalities not unlike characters in a ancient Grecian play. I could feel the rising wind as you sat on the patio for the drinks.
Thank you very much, Uma. That was a nice link with Grecian drama
A wonderful set of pony photos, Derrick. “A Study in Grey” you could have named a few of them collectively.
The Himalayan balsam is so beautiful, but so destructive to other plant life. A real rogue!
Thank you very much, Lavinia
We have a lot of Himalayan balsam around here too. I’m conflicted about it. We’re encouraged to pull it up, and many people do, but I am always a bit sorry to see it lying so dejectedly on the paths.
I think these banks of it look really splendid, and the house owners close by don’t seem to have objected. I haven’t seen much more around. Thanks very much, Susan
And what a welcoming committee 🙂
Thank you very much, Ribana
You just wore me out. What a day!
Thanks very much, Chrissy
i’d welcome those protection from the flies. beautiful photos of the horses, Derrick. glad you had sometime to sit outside.
Thank you so much, Wilma