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Post by 4wd on May 19, 2018 8:09:33 GMT
Symphony of greens this morning. The first two trees were planted by me about 1980.
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Post by 4wd on May 29, 2018 19:12:42 GMT
This was a couple of evenings ago but it's been like it on and off for much of the month. Fog blows in from the sea but breaks up at some point as it hits warmed surfaces inland. This is upper Farndale, we are on the other (wrong) side of the hill and at the time it was drizzly and only 12C
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Post by rgsp on May 31, 2018 19:40:12 GMT
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Post by 4wd on Jun 4, 2018 16:32:59 GMT
Byland Abbey this afternoon. Although the adjacent field is normally grazed, I never actually saw cows in it before.
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Post by rgsp on Jun 5, 2018 19:51:53 GMT
Now I HAVE seen cows in there before, and I think I have photographs to prove it if I could find them, dating from about 1964.
We've also stayed at, as well as eaten at, the Oldstead Black Swan, maybe 20 years ago, when frankly it was a little bit scruffy.
When last in the NYM area, I looked at the meal prices for the above, and we went to the Foresters' Arms, next door to Mousey Thompson's workshops in Kilburn. It's a proper pub still, serving very acceptable food. The Hare, in Scawton, not far away up the bank, now also has prices approaching those of the Black Swan.
We also visited what used to be the Wombwell Arms in Wass: it's not really a pub any more, and I would say the prices have risen sharply and the quality of food dropped sharply in the last couple of years. I shan't bother going there again unless I hear of a major positive change, having been a regular customer over the years.
The "observatory" above Oldstead is still extant, and has notices nearby saying what it is, but it's all locked up, and while there are claims that it is still used occasionally, I suspect very occasionally is more like it, though it's a fine little building.
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Post by 4wd on Jun 6, 2018 16:56:52 GMT
Just noticed this today while spotting thistles. Probably a Northern Marsh Orchid similar to one professionally identified a couple of years ago (but in a different field)
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Post by mcfarmer on Jun 6, 2018 22:40:52 GMT
Just noticed this today while spotting thistles. Probably a Northern Marsh Orchid similar to one professionally identified a couple of years ago (but in a different field) Very nice. What do you call the little jointed plant in the lower right ? We call it snake grass. Of no value, gets very dense, hard to kill.
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Post by 4wd on Jun 7, 2018 7:15:10 GMT
I think it's the early stages of Horsetails. That's a very ancient plant related to the conifers which laid down coal deposits.
Shot was taken in a very peaty damp corner of grazing fields, the cows and calves like to pick about through there but don't really eat it down. While being eaten isn't good for unusual wild flowers, having nutrients taken away by cattle helps keep the more vigorous competing stuff under control.
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Post by mcfarmer on Jun 7, 2018 11:46:25 GMT
I think it's the early stages of Horsetails. That's a very ancient plant related to the conifers which laid down coal deposits. Shot was taken in a very peaty damp corner of grazing fields, the cows and calves like to pick about through there but don't really eat it down. While being eaten isn't good for unusual wild flowers, having nutrients taken away by cattle helps keep the more vigorous competing stuff under control. Interesting story. We have a lot of wetlands around here (Lake township). The Department of Narural Resources bought a small farm locally that they found some rare orchid on. The exact location was a big secret. The old fellow had been grazing it and haying it when he could. The DNR of course "let it go back to nature". Within three years they couldn't find a single orchid. So now they contract with a local guy to put a few cow/calf pairs on it in the summer. The nature folks have a fit seeing those cows tromping things up, but the orchids are increasing. Seems they think it's a sun light thing, in this type of land nutrients would never be a limiting factor.
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Post by 4wd on Jun 14, 2018 6:50:22 GMT
Picking up under a glowering sky Much steepness. There are two little banks like this, not to be under-estimated with the loaded trailers if it's a bit damp and slippy. This one is worst as the more level bit at the bottom is only narrow if things do get out of shape.
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Post by rgsp on Jun 16, 2018 8:50:39 GMT
New bench sitting behind fire-ball, with new marble topped table & log store to the left. The bench looks to be at a bit of an angle, and is, but having tried it levelled up, and leaving it on the slope, it makes very little difference to the comfort of it. The garden seems to be exploding a bit this year: my obelisk hiding in there is 8' tall. Orchid patch in a clearing in our wood. They were actually given to us from someone else's garden, as a single rosett, and they've been making up slowly but fairly steadily ever since (15 years+). They are nominally common speckled orchids, the same "group" in orchid terms, as 4WD's marsh orchids. I'm not sure what the definition of an orchid group is (Dactylorhyza in this case), but I think it means they can hybridise, but don't do so readily.
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Post by 4wd on Jun 18, 2018 8:20:10 GMT
The softest place to snooze seems to be this peaty damp spot.
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Post by 4wd on Jun 18, 2018 8:28:48 GMT
No pics please we haven't done make up yet.
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Post by 4wd on Jun 20, 2018 19:36:53 GMT
Wrap and Roll
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Post by Joyce on Jun 20, 2018 22:21:49 GMT
Great photos - must have missed some last time I looked. Plenty of banner material
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