Where is the Giant's pencil case?

The Giant was striding home from Giant School and stopped to draw a sketch of the changes in the forest. As he opened his knapsack he realised he had lost his brand new pencil case. 

His mother would scold him, he was sure. In panic he retraced his steps, desperate to find it, and dropped his freshly sharpened pencils on the ground.

Poor Giant! I hope he found it and remembered to pick up his pencils.

Today’s Flowers #97 – foxgloves in the forest

A field of foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) in the forest. The predominant colour is purple, as the Latin name suggests - or is it magenta? - but there are white and pink flowers too. This enclosure is close to the road, separated by the trees in the background. Last year this ground was covered in mature trees but they were harvested and the ground turned over and replanted with saplings. At present the bracken and the foxgloves conceal the little trees and the deer undoubtedly nibble at them too. We believe this area is fenced in order to stop travellers pulling off the road in convoys of caravans and trailers and setting up camp for weeks or months.The forest workers - not the rangers - would have us believe it's to stop rabbits! We've never seen rabbits in this part of the forest!!

The flower spikes ripen from the bottom up.There may be 20 to 80 flowers on a single stem.

Those bells invite visitors to enter - and they do, in numbers!

Cropped from the above photograph

This beautiful plant is extremely toxic but gives the drug digitalis, extracted from the leaves of the second year's growth,  which, in small doses, is used in the treatment of heart disease. Its medicinal use was discovered in 1785 by William Withering, though how it worked, by stimulating the heart, was not then understood.

The name is a pretty one for such a splendid plant. Some fancifully believed it was a corruption of 'folks' gloves' the folks being fairy folk. In some parts of Britain it is called 'fairy bells'. In Welsh the foxglove is called 'menig ellyllon' (elves' gloves) or 'menig y llwynog'  (the fox's gloves). The Irish call it 'fairy thimble'.

Another belief was that the bells made suitable gloves for foxes with fox as a corruption of 'folks'.

Thank you to the 'Today's Flowers' team for organising and hosting this meme each week. To see more blooms around the world please click here.

Today’s Flowers #94 Scots Pine

Who leaves the pine-tree, leaves his friend,

Unnerves his strength, invites his end.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

(I pinched this quotation from Brian Johnston's site, linked below, because I liked it!)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

We saw these cones as we finished our walk the other afternoon and I asked Barry to photograph them. I thought they were developing cones.

In fact, when I started researching, I discovered (on Brian Johnston's most informative site)that these are male pollen-producing cones. I shall be looking for females next time we go past some Scots pines!

There's such a lot still to learn!

Thank you to the Today's Flowers team for their work each week, organising and hosting this meme. Click here to see more flowers across the world.

ABC Wednesday Round 6 F is for Ferns and Fiddleheads

Much of the Forest is covered in large, sharp-edged Ferns known as bracken. At this time of year, February, last year's plants lie brown and dry (or would be if it would only stop precipitating) while under the soil new growth is awakening. Bracken Fern is one of the oldest known Ferns with Fossilised remains pointing to its existence over 55 million years ago. It has a widely spreading rootstock from its rhizomes, maybe as much as one metre underground between individuals, from which large triangular Fronds emerge. When they first appear they are tightly-curled and known as 'Fiddleheads', resembling the Fiddlehead (scroll) of a violin. Bracken Fiddleheads are used in Oriental cookery, cooked Fresh, salted or pickled, or sun-dried. Rhizomes and fronds have been used to make beer, and starch from the rhizomes has been used as a substitute for arrowroot or as Flour to make bread.

By late Summer the plants can be as tall as 8' (2.5m) Though not impenetrable they can present a Formidable barrier, particularly when wet. Dogs and deer, Foxes, badgers and smaller mammals have little difficulty but humans are sometimes deterred by them (well, this human is . . . )

Ferns have neither Flowers nor Fruits and reproduce by means of spores on the undersides of the leaves. Bracken spores are linear rather than the more common circular Form of other Ferns.
Bracken is toxic to cattle, horses, pigs and small rodents, though usually they will eat it only when there is nothing else available. It also allows little else to grow because of the chemicals it produces, though bluebells, wood anemones and mosses are unaffected.

The Fiddle, or violin, has several Fs. The scroll is often called the Fiddlehead, there is a Fingerboard made from ebony, two F holes and often Four Fine-tuners.

 

Finally, in February, I expect to Find Frogs in the garden pond. Thus Far, there are none! I suspect they are sensibly still hibernating in the deep mud. The Fish are becoming more active though many of the Sticklebacks didn't survive the cold spell. Perhaps this year the Frogspawn will be more successful!

Thanks go to the ABC Wednesday team for their hard work in hosting this meme. Click here to see more Fs!

Today's Flowers #66 Autumn colour

Not flowers I know, but definitely growing plants. When the sun shines the forest seems to glow and burn with vibrant colour and onlookers can feel their souls expanding.
Thank you to the TF team of Luiz Santilli Jr.,Denise Gullickson, Laerte Pupo and Valkyrien for hosting this meme.
Do please click HERE to see more offerings for this colourful meme.

Dog scootering

A short while ago I mentioned that Barry had met a lady in the forest who was dog scootering. He thought it might be fun to try it so started researching.

It's similar to sledding – in fact the dogs wear the same harnesses but are attached to a scooter rather than a sled. Sometimes people use a bike rather than a scooter – officially this is called bikejoring – but it is considered more dangerous as it is much more difficult to dismount a bicycle quickly in an emergency.

It is a sport growing in popularity. In the meantime we are musing on the subject. It does look like a lot of fun and certainly Frodo would be a candidate as he's very strong. Apparently most dogs can be trained to the harness – I have my doubts about Chihuahuas though!

There is a video clip here.

Pet Pride Play with me?

Frodo likes to play with Jenna but when she's in retrieving mode ('working') she won't play with him. What's he thinking in these photos?

Frodo: I think she's over there somewhere. Frodo: Oh, there you are, Jenna. Want to play?

Jenna: Got my mouth full right now.

Frodo: Aww, go on - play with me.
Jenna: Maybe later - busy now.

Frodo: Chase?
Jenna: Whatever . . Jenna: I'm going for a quick swim. Coming?

Frodo: Nah - just had one, thanks.

Frodo (thinks): If I get the ball away from her she'll have to play with me.

Jenna: That swim was good - very refreshing. Frodo, I can read your mind. You can't get the ball from me and even if you did Mrs Boss has got some spares. I'll play later - at the moment I'm working. Now, back to business.

Thank you to Bozo and his human for creating and hosting this meme.

To join in please click here.

Shadow Shot Sunday #70

It was a lovely day today - bright and sunny and very warm. Buddy Liver Spots had his tongue hanging out.

Jenna-the-Labrador's lo-o-o-o-o-o-ng tongue was hanging out too!

Frodo the Faller's tongue was tucked inside his mouth - he's so cool!

Thank you to Tracy at 'Hey Harriet' for this inspired meme.

To see more Shadow Shots please click here

SkyWatch Friday Season 4 - Episode 7 - Evening walk

Our eldest daughter has been staying with us for a short while with her children. A few days ago we took the dogs for an evening walk. It was good to breathe the fresh clean air in the forest.
The second and third photos will enlarge if clicked - don't know why the others won't . . .


It was getting late - past eight o' clock - and the sun was setting.

Marnie was hauling Dominie on her wheels. In this photo she and Callum and Kiri are pulling Dominie out of the pond. The Labradors, Tia, Jenna and Foxy were enjoying lots of swims.

Frodo and Buddy were following their own trail not too far away - they rarely stray far.

We returned home refreshed and happy and glad to be alive.

Thank you to Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise for hosting this meme.

To join in or to see more beautiful skies from around the world please click here

Pet Pride - the full complement

Taken a couple of years ago in the forest. The Labradors and the black-spotted Dalmatians have just come out of the pond. The two Labradors on the left belong to Gillian and come to us for their holidays. Buddy Liver Spots (on the left) dislikes getting his paws wet . . .
. . . but he likes standing in the long grass!

Thank you to Bozo and his human for creating and hosting this meme.

To join in please click here

Pet Pride - Jenna waits

Earlier on Sunday morning Jenna was waiting patiently for her run. Her Labrador friends (Tia is just behind her) are spending their summer holidays with us so they accompany her and Frodo the Faller as Barry leads them through the forest on his bike.
Thank you to Bozo and his human for creating and hosting this meme.
If you'd like to see more gorgeous pets please click here

Camera Critters #68

When we take the dogs walking I usually take my camera (Canon Ixus 980) It's small enough to go in a pocket or to carry in my free hand ready for action. In the other hand I carry the ball-flinger to keep Jenna-the-Labrador entertained. As Gillian and Paul's dogs are staying with us at the moment it keeps them busy too.
Last Thursday we were strolling along, Barry hauling Dominie, Buddy and Frodo catching up on pee-mails, the Labradors hurling themselves into every puddle and pond they came to and me scanning for activitiy. Then I saw a roe deer; she was in an area where we often see deer. I tried to photograph her but she was some distance away and wary. We would eventually pass the other side of this small area and I was hopeful of seeing her again.
At one of the new ponds, excavated earlier this year when tree harvesting was being carried out, Frodo and the Labradors swam and drank and paddled and played. When Dominie was independent she loved to swim and so Barry lets her roll gently into the pond where she can enjoy the sensation of water on her body, drink some of it and revisit earlier times for a little while. When she's had enough she lies in the sun to rest and lick herself while Buddy and Frodo pace about, sniffing here and there and the Labradors chase the ball.

Barry guides Dominie into the water as Buddy watches. Jenna has collected the ball on this occasion.


Now Tia has the ball. As usual Jenna is wearing her transmitter collar so that we know which direction to worry in when she disappears!
Foxy, Gillian and Paul's fox-red Labrador, learnt long ago that treats were far more satisfying to retrieve than a slobbery ball so stopped trying to keep up with Tia and Jenna. I don't often take titbits out with me now but she still looks hopefully at me, my hands, my pockets. She is slowly realising that she is a retriever and she can sometimes get to the ball before the others, so long as she has a headstart - that is, if I fool the others into going in the wrong direction first. They can never quite believe she has found it and will go on looking until they realise she has it, then Jenna takes it from her! Foxy never objects - she really is a very sweet-tempered dog.

Foxy has the ball. Jenna and Tia haven't realised where I've thrown it and are quartering the ground beyond the pond.
Dominie's pleasures in life include meeting new people and dogs. Most people stop to enquire about the reason for her wheels.Some dogs are spooked by the unfamiliar silhouette she presents but usually the dog greetings follow the routine and etiquette they always have. She particularly likes little dogs and on Thursday she met two out with their humans. One of them was a rescue dog - we meet quite a few of these in our perambulations, from small cross-breeds to retired racing Greyhounds to working breeds that have proved too much for their original owners or breeders. The sky was ever-changing and threatening rain - indeed wehad a torrential downpour later in the evening - so we proceeded on our way. Sure enough, when we reached the opposite side of the stretch where I had spotted the doe, there she was again. Now she was accompanied by a young buck who appeared to have only one antler. Barry took over ball-flinging duties - we knew if Jenna caught sight, sound or scent of the deer she would have been off!

The deer are beyond the pond between the two groups of small trees. Frodo is paddling and slaking his thirst.

Frodo, my velcro dog, accompanied me as I slowly approached the pair, happily paddling and keeping an eye on me. The doe and buck were aware of me but seemed unfazed, looking at me now and again and then resuming their grazing.

He looks at me while she looks in the other direction.Deer slot
Eventually, after I had been watching and photographing and moving closer for about seven minutes, the doe went into cover where she continued to watch me for a while before vanishing.
The buck looked long and hard at me. I wonder what happened to his right antler? Finally he decided that discretion was the better part of valour and left the scene . . . but unhurriedly, at his leisure.

I don't think I'll ever get over my excitement at seeing deer - they are truly beautiful elegant creatures and their ability to melt into the shrubs and trees is amazing.

Next time we'll take Barry's Canon 40D with a telephoto lens and hopefully the photographs will be much better quality. Of course, the mere act of taking it with us will probably guarantee we shan't see any wild animals!

Thank you to Misty Dawn for creating this meme and to Misty and Tammy for hosting it.

To see more Critters please click here

SkyWatch Friday #54

In the course of an hour . . . on a July afternoon . . . in the south of England . . .and there was torrential rain a little while later . . .

To enjoy more skies from around the world please click here

Thank you to Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise, who host SkyWatch Friday

Creeping thing(s) that creepeth upon the earth . . .

Walking the dogs is never quite straightforward. Much as I would love simply to set off into the wide blue yonder there are things we must make sure we take with us - leads for the boys in case we meet other dogs (Frodo the Faller is my champion, Buddy Liver Spots can't see who or what is there . . . ) back wheels for Dominie, the old lady, ball and flinger and transmitter collar and receiver for Jenna-the-Labrador, walking poles, hat, sunglasses, belt with bungee to tow Dominie up the slopes and out of the ponds for Barry, and for me a belt bag with spare balls, tissues, keys, sometimes dog treats and now, nearly every time, my Canon Ixus 980. Sometimes we take video cameras, larger cameras with telephoto lenses, telescopes, binoculars, folding stools, vacuum flasks of tea; we sit and watch and breathe in God's good air while the Dalmatians pace about not far from us and Jenna chases tirelessly after a ball. If she chances on fresh deer tracks she may disappear, ball in mouth, for anything up to forty minutes. When she returns, tongue lolling, she scampers up to us as if there's nothing amiss, looking at me to throw her another ball, having lost hers in the deer chase. Happily, these jaunts are becoming less common as she grows older and wiser (crossing fingers and toes here that I'm not tempting Providence . . . )

Barry is the Dominie-hauler so it falls to me to be the ball-lobber and dog lead carrier. As I am right-handed that is the one I use for pitching. My camera is carried in my left hand ready to capture passing deer or ducks. I know it is only a matter of time before I fling the camera and take photos with the ball-tosser!
The other day, on the homeward part of our walk, with three of the dogs in varying states of dampness (Buddy only goes in water if we accompany him – otherwise he goes to great pains to avoid getting even his feet wet) I stopped to take some photographs. In my quest – or should that be zest? – to overcome the paucity of my botanical knowledge I took photos of the flowers of Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) which were developing their seed heads. (I identified the plant later.) The flowers are most attractive to butterflies which will pollinate closely neighbouring male and female thistles.

Seeds are not the sole form of reproduction because the plant also spreads through its creeping root system from which new plants will grow some distance from the parent. This habit makes it a troublesome weed for farmers and gardeners as it is resistant to weed killer and very difficult to dig up.

I also photographed 'some grass'. I later identified it as Creeping Soft Grass or Creeping Velvet Grass (Holcus mollis) a common and widespread native of Europe and western Asia. It sends out roots which may extend to 100' (30m) in length within a square foot of soil.

I noticed a multitude of common red soldier beetles (Rhagonycha fulva) disporting themselves on the thistles and the grass. These beetles are very common in Europe and Anatolia (Asia Minor) and are sometimes called blood suckers because of their colouring though they do not suck blood. They are diurnal and prey on small insects on flowers. Because they are often to be found mating on umbellifer heads they are also known as 'hogweed bonking beetles'. The larvae live in soil and hunt for snails and insects. After a year, during which they moult several times, the larvae pupate and then emerge as fully grown beetles.
Now the point is shall I remember all this? I learnt the name of one small plant last year - Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) I picked one flower and pressed it in my Field Guide to British wild flowers. I've just photographed it - it's lost one of its petals - and learnt a little more about it.

In the seventeenth century a decoction of tormentil root was recommended as an analgesic for toothache. In some places it's known as blood root because the roots render a red dye used for colouring cloth. Tormentil roots were also used as an alternative to oak bark in the tanning of leather. The nectar attracts pollinating insects but in wet weather or at night when the petals close up tormentil can be self-pollinating. Amazing information!

I hope that photographing and writing about my small discoveries will help me to expand my woefully inadequate knowledge of the ever-surprising and wonderful natural world.