Afterwards I managed a short visit to Coombe Wood - unfortunately even shorter than planned because of my silly foot.
Although the frost had all melted there was still ice on the pond.
Fish drifted about beneath the thin layer of ice and the last remains of the compressed snow that someone had thrown onto the pond. All the sticks and branches that were on the surface the other day had sunk through the thin ice.
Many flower beds have had their plants cut back hard and have been mulched.
The prairie planting area looks very small with everything so low - when everything is growing it feels much larger and I can wander along the pathways between the tall plants for ages.
Bark paths renewed? Everything is looking very tidy.
Hydrangea flowers - papery petals - partial skeletons.
There are still masses of tiny winged seeds on the biggest acer tree.
Bright berries
Looking closer - many are quite wrinkled now.
I found what's left of the Earthstar mushrooms this time. It took quite a bit of searching - they really are very small and well disguised among the leaves. The one on the left was dented last time but has re-inflated itself. The one in the middle that looks like Zippy from Rainbow (children's TV programme 1972 - 1992) is beyond re-inflation.
Someone has dumped a pile of rubbish in the car park. I was glad I'd parked over the road in the overflow car park.
Irises and all sorts of other plants will be popping up in this neatly prepared flower bed.later on.
Remains of melted snow on the grass.
A cascade of ivy at the back of this prepared flower bed. A sense of anticipation - these flower beds will be overflowing in a few months time.
Looking at the mossy corrugated roof on my way past. Slender stems (only a cm or so high) above the mossy carpet which is interspersed with tiny mushrooms.
So much is happening underneath the surface of the soil. I couldn't help wondering what the plants whose tips had broken through the surface might have felt when the thick layer of mulch was put on top of them. Life's like that . . . you're just breaking through the surface when a load of muck is dumped on top of you. Even if it's been added to help you grow it's not much fun being in the dark again.
The flowers didn't survive the blanket of snow but the plants did - the flowers will be back soon.
Some very odd parking in the car park. A red car across two spaces - they can't even make the excuse that they couldn't see the lines because of frost/snow/leaves etc.
As I walked across to my car in the other car park just as I glanced back at the pond the sun came out and shone on the ice.
Just before I crossed the road I noticed a lovely bright splash of yellow flowers.
Thank you very much for joining me.
oops, lost my first comment, my pc screen froze... can't believe the mess in the car park, how irresponsible some people are! Great photos after your eventful morning!
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen. Yes the rubbish in the car park is very disappointing as one of the fly-tippers in the area has recently been given a prison sentence and it was hoped that this would send a message to others and put them off doing it.
ReplyDelete