Wednesday 18 June 2014

Weather for Chickens - Permutations 3

We are not far from home now; there’s just the castle field to come. I promised Millie a paddle in the river and I must keep my promise.

Here is another reason why I am not a great enthusiast when it comes to summer days: our daily walk takes us through lush meadows, where grass and wildflowers reach chest height in places. As I come down the slope to the river I can hear a great cry of joy going up “DINNER!” Before I go out I have to put on Jeans, socks and shoes, nettles sting me and bloodthirsty creatures feast on bare arms and legs.


The tallest plants to wade through are the common hogweeds (not giant hogweed) with their large flat umbrella-shaped (hence ‘umbels’) flower heads.  Reflecting sunlight they are very pretty but by moonlight they turn luminous, ghostly. They are a bit of a menace in one of the meadows by the river because lack of access makes mowing impossible.


Another large spreader by the river is water balsam; very pretty, but another eager coloniser. I think there have been efforts to remove it; as you can see, without much success. 


And here she is, almost at the end of our walk, enjoying a bit of a splash before we make our way through buttercups and clover, our errand done and tea waiting for us in the garden.


 Not bad for a total of thirty minutes’ walk, give or take 20 minutes either way for contemplation.




41 comments:

  1. Aside from your role as fresh meat, it sounds idyllic. The wildflowers are lovely and I imagine Millie was in heaven.

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  2. It is important to keep one's promises, and I'm sure Millie loved the quick dip!

    Pearl

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  3. It looks lovely, even if it didn't feel that way, given all the bugs! :-)

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  4. Sounds like a nice, albeit buggy, walk. Are the mosquitoes bad there?

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  5. What a lovely walk, except for the hungry bugs. Millie looks like she enjoyed her dip.

    Have a great day today ~ FlowerLady

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  6. Friko, what a lushly overgrown route to that refreshing dip for Millie. I could hear those bugs a buzzing! I'd be interested to see what this particular area will look like in late September.

    Your perambulation reports make for wonderful reading. xo

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  7. Hello:

    All so very, very English [or nearly very, very Welsh in this case]. Whilst we appreciate the disadvantages of these daily walks, what wonderful meadows to have on hand. Could such be found in Slough or Surbiton [where of course you have not chosen to live!]?

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  8. hey i need a dip in the water as well...ha...at least you are surrounded by such life eh?
    the skeeters are pretty bad here this year...i have been feeding them to the spider on my porch....

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  9. Well, as you said in your other post, it's a higher class of weeds -- at least on the beauty scale. Here they are trying to eliminate hogweed saying it is dangerous. Have to look up why. And they say it isn't the same as Queen Anne's Lace, even though the flower head is similar. I love QALace... Well, that photo of Millie's swim makes me smile extra big!

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  10. "DINNER!" had me laughing in recognition of the issue. And here I had been envying the ability one has in Britain to wade into the tall meadows, as one cannot here. It's well to be reminded that each idyllic wild-scape has its hazards . . . but also its delights, as you so amply display here. Lucky Millie!

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  11. Maybe you should wear a diver's costume ! I love when everything looks so wild ! Beautiful pictures !

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  12. "...nettles sting me and bloodthirsty creatures feast on bare arms and legs."
    *shudder* I would stay on a well maintained path.

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  13. Dear Friko, no castle or river nearby and so your walk with Millie gave me a sense of contentment and well-being because the sound of running water flows deep within me. Thank you for sharing this walk with us. Peace.

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  14. Maar ondanks al die aanvallen is het wel mooi om te zien ,maar ja het kan soms te overdadig zijn.

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  15. Schöne Sommerbilder.

    Gruß
    Noke

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  16. Gorgeous. Even common hogweed can grow to quite a height.

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  17. Thank you. As a bitey things smorgasbord I enjoyed the walk without the welts - though I am itching now.

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  18. I've enjoyed your walk very much indeed...you have some splendid photographs too.

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  19. That was a nice walk without having to endure chiggars and skeeters. Pretty shots too.

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  20. " bit of a splash before we make our way through buttercups and clover, our errand done and tea waiting for us in the garden."

    Like a lovely song sung by a child to herself in early Summer. . . . You make us feel it too.



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= <3

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  21. I especially liked the photo of the dog in the water.

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  22. What a nice time of the year Friko! You are strolling through the meadows, breathing fresh air with Milly, watching wild flowers, and then tea in the garden.
    This hogweeds is everywhere, here it's as well.

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  23. I know what you mean about the "DINNER!" cry from the assorted creatures living in the tall grass and flowering plants. Last year on a walk along the river between Ripon and Roecliffe, a machete would have come in handy in places, and I made sure to slip through the most overgrown bits as fast as possible, keeping my arms folded in front of my chest as if in prayer. I got away with just one or two bites but, thankfully, no ticks.
    Still, I love such overgrown paths. They are a good reminder of what nature does when it is left to its own devices. Healthy!

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  24. You wild flowers are so much like our wild flowers that I an tell who colonized this country!

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  25. Nice walk and photos. I noticed you have a smudge on your lens. Clean it with a cotton cloth, or a shirt tail, whichever is handy.

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  26. I love the wildflowers and wonder why people try to get rid of them.

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  27. The "DINNER!"made me smile as one who is often eaten by the little bug(ger)s.
    The last image is beautiful, excellent depth - good enough to grace a wall. Gizzit!
    Anna :o]

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  28. Contemplation. A key item of the walk. I wonder haw Millie handles the hitch hikers?

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  29. Weeds can be pretty things - the golden buttercups are so cheerful and always remind me of playing in the fields of my grandparents' home. Being DINNER is not fun, in contrast with walking through a grassy meadow.

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  30. Millie probably thinks it is more than worth the trip--LOL! I love those little yellow flowers. I am usually dinner, also. Mosquitoes love me. ;)

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  31. Perhaps you could try a mud bath before you set out and a a sloosh down with the garden hose when you get back ?
    No , maybe not .

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  32. Now if we were wandering through the wild flowers here in Texas, we would be watching for those slithery little creatures! Nice pics!

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  33. I love those summer walks through the high grass, seeing all the different wild flowers blooming :)
    The bugs are a different story though ;)
    Ich hoffe, Du hast ein wunderschönes Wochenende :)

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  34. Along with Millie's paddle, the contemplation time is of utmost importance!
    Enjoy your week Friko :)

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  35. The wild flowers have been exceptional this year, and aren't the colours lovely. Millie looks as if she's certainly enjoying her walk.

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  36. I must take the camera on one of my walks, thanks for this.
    XO
    WWW

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  37. I do think it's worth avoiding Giant Hogweed - it can be quite nasty. Nettles always manage to get a sting or two in as well. But the insects are worst. Despite this I love hot sunny summer days.

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  38. Weeds or wildflowers, they are beautiful -- especially the geraniums!

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  39. Lovely wildflowers, but I don't like the sound of those nettles!

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  40. Hi Friko - not bad at all ... our rivers are covered over ... the wildflower meadows or fields are gorgeous .. and I love your clover with its buttercups ...

    Cheers Hilary

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  41. While your writing amuses me your photos of the wild are stunning. You will remain fit keeping the pet happy.

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