A day spent woolgathering (pic heavy)

[Harvestman]

After a few household chores I got my pass to go out and play today, which was nice, because the weather looked promising. I had no real objective other than to gather some of the first crop of ramsons from my favourite patch.

A short drive brought me to my destination (near Shirenewton, for those who know rural Monmouthshire). The ramsons were out in good numbers, and I soon gathered a good bagful. I know a lady who runs a farm shop who will trade me some of her excellent bacon for these, so the time was a good investment.

One to avoid when picking ramsons - Cuckoo pint. Nasty stuff.

I too the opportunity for a wander around the area, crossing the road into a woodland that I have always meant to explore but never got around to before. I found some elder coming into leaf.

The path soon disappeared. Or I lost it. This happens to me a lot.

After a bit of scrambling though the trees I came out into a more open bit of woodland. Beech dominated, with an understorey of yew and holly.

I regained the road, and went back into my ramsons wood, but from the other end. The path here is nice and clear.

There were lots of these about. The wood has loads of fallen ash trees.

Hartstongue fern was also very abundant in these woods.

I took a break on a fallen birch, enjoyed the sunshine for a bit, and had a play with the macro setting on my camera. Then it was back to the car and the next destination.

For the second weekend in a row I checked out the best local site for wild daffodils. Still no flowers there yet, but this fungus-covered stick caught my eye.

It really was a very nice day. I managed the entire day without wearing my coat.

I also managed a sort of self portrait with the aid of the sunshine.

Then I met these lovely young ladies. Hebridean sheep, as used by Gwent Wildlife Trust to graze their land. I had a sudden inspiration and started gathering wool from the fences and bushes around the field, ending up with about 50g (2oz) of wool, plus assorted sticks, grass and dead leaves. No idea what I'll do with it yet, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

And then this fellow jumped out of the hedgerow. A blackandwhitebird. Not that unusual, but the first time I've seen one.

This was followed by some fast food...

...and a sitting target (forgot my catapult again).

And so the sun set on a wonderfully relaxing day.

Just one question. If today was so relaxing, why am I absolutely shattered now?

 

[wicca]

Some lovely photos, the fungi on the stick is pretty and the Black Bird looks to be one very confused dickie-bird.. Lots of Cuckoo Pint out down this way too, 'cept here it's 'Lords and Ladies'.
Thanks for the trip.

 

[Shewie]

Great pics, a real feel of Spring

Praying for sunshine for a three nighter next week

 

[Kepis]

Great stuff mate, looks like it was an outstanding day out, we had an albino Blackbird around here a few years back, twitchers everywhere there was

 

[shaggystu]

Absolutely loving this photo.

Looks like a lovely day out, thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

Stuart

 

[treadlightly]

I realy enjoyed that. Thanks.

 

[mountainy man]

Looks like a lovely place. Not Gooseberry but Elderberry.

 

[RonW]

That's the way to spend a day....
Looks like you found yourself a new playground, huh?

 

[greensurfingbear]

Thanks for that H-man. Living up to your forum name

Great way to spend the day


Orric

 

[Niels]

Thanks for sharing

 

[Elen Sentier]

Great trip, thanks Mike . Lots of stuff up and out and going for it. Do you do rabbits with your catapult too? Let me know how the wool goes ...

 

[stuart f]

Nice one Harvestman, looks a wonderful day spent outdoors, and some cracking pics to boot. In the second pic, of the Arum's(Cuckoo pint or Lords and Ladies) you managed to get 2 poisonous plant in the pic, the little plant behind and right, is Dog's Mercury(Mercurialis perennis), we get shed loads of the stuff around here. Heres A little link http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/mercurialis_perennis.htm.

Anyway i digress, thanks for the pics and sharing your day.

Cheers Stuart.

 

[GordonM]

Beautiful outdoors photos! Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

[Harvestman]

Nice one Harvestman, looks a wonderful day spent outdoors, and some cracking pics to boot. In the second pic, of the Arum's(Cuckoo pint or Lords and Ladies) you managed to get 2 poisonous plant in the pic, the little plant behind and right, is Dog's Mercury(Mercurialis perennis), we get shed loads of the stuff around here. Heres A little link http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/mercurialis_perennis.htm.

Thanks for adding that Stuart. As it happens, I knew that, but you weren't to know.

Looks like a lovely place. Not Gooseberry but Elderberry.

You are right of course. I realised that today when I went back. Glad you were paying attention.

Do you do rabbits with your catapult too?

I'm lucky if I can hit a tree that I aim at, never mind small moving targets.

Thanks all.




My first multi-quoted post

 

[copper_head]

Really nice post and pics, envious!

 

[Harvestman]

Oh yes, I should add that today I successfully traded my bag of ramsons for a bag of smoked bacon bits at the farm shop, with a smile from the lovely young assistant thrown in free. I reckon I came out ahead on the deal!

 

[Bigrich]

Looks like a lovely day,

Thanks for sharing

Rich

 

[Macaroon]

It's a great time of year, eh? Days becoming light for long enough to do and see loads of stuff...............I keep hearing of the wild garlic but have yet to find any up here; perhaps I'm a little high (?) for the early crop.
When I've got gleaned wool, horsehair and the like, it goes into the garden near the nesting sites - amazing how quickly the little'uns use it up, and they'll be nesting now-ish...............atb mac

 

[Earthgirl]

Thanks for sharing that looked like a really nice day out....

 

[hog]

Looks like a 'white' Blackbird ?? strange, never seen one like that before, must be some sort of albino gene running in there. Well spotted.