Just a Sunday morning walk, while the sun was shining.
We went along the river below the green bridge.
There was so much to see.
There were galls everywhere. I wonder if it has it been a particularly big year for galls in general, because every oak tree I have seen has had one kind of another.
This one is an oak apple gall. Tiny parasitic wasps cause them to grow and their larvae live in the middle.
And we saw loads of these cone shaped things on the oaks this year too. These are artichoke galls. It's the first time I have noticed these.
These ones are spangle galls and they seemed to be dusting everything on the forest floor.
These ones, the silk button spangle galls are my favourites. They are like little jewels.
The leaves were turning beautifully.
And the squirrels were busy running off with acorns.
We loved this leaf with it's constellation of stars.
And we pondered about tiny nature being a reflection of huge nature, but without being able to really articulate it in words!
All this in a few square metres of forest.
In the words of my friend Andrea's Dad, 'We don't go far, but we do see life'. That one really stuck with me and makes me remember it doesn't need to be a big adventure, to give you a lot.
1 comment
I have struggled to get to such rural scenery and side a hip operation my exercise has tended to be on tarmac pavements around home. This walk, and sharing of your miniscule observations was so refreshingly eye opening, and quite different from where I live . So many different galls, with pretty names, too! Many thanks for sharing.