Firstly a brief public service announcement. Scroll down to the pictures of the barley field and the rhododendron. Under that are two images of a bittersweet/woody nightshade plant – blue flowers like a potato, leaves a bit like a potato/tomato too and little green fruit that will, as they ripen, go red. This is not as deadly as deadly nightshade but still pretty toxic and the tiny tomato like fruits can be attractive to children. I found these at the back of the Hirsel lake, but they are not uncommon. Anyway – if you find some don’t touch them (or if you do wash your hands) and most definitely don’t eat them.
Moving swiftly on… I think we have now reached the end of the hip replacement updates as I am pretty much 80%+ back to normal, with just the odd twinge and ache here or there which I’m treating with paracetamol and cheesy wotsits. Sockman has been stood down – I’m putting those cheeky fellows on all by myself. The sticks are abandoned and serious dog walking has resumed. I’ve even been down on my knees getting a bit of weeding done. So a big thank you to my surgeon Mr Gaston and all the team at the Murrayfield. Job well done! I’m now looking forward to sign off for driving the car and wondering whether, after all, yoga might not be an option.. ….
It’s been hot and sticky of late so the enhanced walking has largely been down in the woods. On my first longish walk we were lucky enough to see some young red deer just inside the tree line (see below). We now find ourselves slowing almost to a halt on the same stretch on every trip, peering with bated breath into the shadows, hoping for more. Subsequent mammalian excitements have been limited to squirrels so far, but hope springs eternal. The insect life, however, has been more forthcoming and all along the track there has been a flurry and a flutter of little brown items. Now this merits a confession. After my successful identification of a ringlet a few years ago I had rather got into the habit of confidently declaring all the “broon yins” ringlets. Reader I was in error and may have misled you in the past. It seems that we need a giant compendium of broon bugs as a companion to the big book of wee broon birdies. So today I bring you the speckled wood (pic no.3) and the meadow brown (pic no. 7). The latter, in flight, leaves a fleeting almost gingery, orange impression, from the markings on its wing undersides. On a more colourful note, I’ve even seen some commas (scroll on down to the bottom) out and about with the bees and hoverflies, enjoying the brambles (as well as in the garden) as well as the rather ghostly flit of daytime moths.
Foraging season has started at last. Mum and I are snarfing wild cherries, raspberries and gooseberries here and there as we walk, just waiting for the “big ripening” to make it worth while coming with tubs and bags. There’s meadowsweet in bloom ready to be collected for cordial and syrup and the first of the wild hazels. (And if the squirrels have all my hazels this year let it be known that I’m coming straight down to the woods and stealing theirs…). However, the crop of crops this year will be brambles. The dry season ended just in time for the flowers and as the fruit has been setting conditions have been well nigh perfect. I’m thinking jelly (of course) and gin and coulis and I might even lash out on a new ice cream machine…Further suggestions will be gratefully received.
So anyway, there will be no more hip related updates and I shall likely slink away from Facebook again now all the rellies are updated (and Aunties Syb and Veronica have been for a site visit and can testify under oath to my general wellbeing). I shall, of course, carry on watering so if anyone is truly desperate for more dog and garden photos I think there is an option to sign up somewhere on the blog site – there’s no accounting for taste…..
very please
Very pleased to hear that the hip is now behind you. Keep up the excellent communications.