I began the day with a dead-heading session in the garden.
The mystery of yesterday’s lost clematis was solved on this less sunny morning. Today there was no bright backlighting fooling us with the strong red hues, and even giving a green hue to the Gothic arch. The plant is in fact Star of India. And yesterday we had been both perfectly sober.
This afternoon we drove to Ferndene Farm Shop to buy three more bags of compost and, naturally a few plants. We continued on into the forest.
The Highland cattle were back alongside Rhinefield Road outside Brockenhurst.
Jackie parked in Blackwater car park at the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive and left me to walk along a footpath through the
Douglas firs which have their own explanatory carved wooden plaque and sculpted pine cone.
Apart from a couple at the picnic table; the occasional cyclist or car on Rhinefield Road; and the couple for whom I stepped aside as I returned to the car,
it was just me with the thrushes for company,
as I walked along the sanded footpath with its ferns, felled and fallen trees, and pine cones carpeting the floor.
I did imagine I had seen a deep sea fish somewhat out of it element, but it turned out to be the shallow roots of a once upright young forest giant.
I had managed 27 minutes unchaperoned walk, my speed rapidly decreasing towards the end.
We could easily forgive the pony fondly watching over her sleeping foal for blocking our path at Bashley.
This evening we dined on succulent chicken Kiev; Jackie’s savoury rice; crisp cauliflower and baby sweetcorn; and tender green beans. The Culinary Queen drank Blue Moon while I finished the Shiraz.