Bank Holiday Monday.
Scotland: early day closing.
And once light was over the land, we looked out and saw it was sun shine. Sunshine means one thing: orchid hunt.
And as the TV recorder thing, shall I call it a video? failed to record the football again. Maybe its getting bored. We had breakfast and went out, out into the greatness that is spring in Kent.
The task in hand, or the plan: was to visit not one, not two, but three prime orchid sites and snap the orchid on orchid action. At least on a Bank Holiday morning, the port traffic would be light, so we drive to Folkestone, then to Hythe and then up Stone Street to Petham. Or would have done if that nice farmer hadn't so nicely to please stop parking in the gateway to her field. So, we drive round to Penny Pot Lane, down through the woods to the parking place the other side of the wood. And even with an extra ten minutes of walking, this wasn't going to be a bad thing.
As on both side of the track leading into the wood, there were thousands of bluebells, all caught by the early morning sun, looking glorious. And we were the only ones to see them, the show was all for us. Down we went, and past the piles of pine logs, already cut and ready for transport, until we came to the fork in the road, and in front of us was orchid central. And this would be the most little known site, except a rather rare little butterlfy likes to live here too, and so the butterfly snappers go running about chasing the DoBs, flattening the orchids Such is life.
But it turns out to be a little too early for the butterflies, just one other snapper is about, and he has seen just one Skipper that morning. Not many Lady Orchids open, just two in fact, but looking glorious in the sunshine. We look round the site, get our shots. And it is time to head out, as orchids don't shoot themselves.
It is a 20 minute drive to the next site, along sun dappled, leafy lanes. It really is horrible what we put up with. We park at the crossroads, gather our gear and walk up the hill to the site. There were just two others there, sitting on the bench in the clearing, one declaring that this is best bench in Kent. She may be right.
I snap two Fly Orchids, a couple of Lady, a Brimstone Butterfly, then we sit down to watch the world, and to just listen to the joy of nature at high spring.
But the day is getting on, and we have one more stop before we can go home for lunch and 'other stuff'.
A short drive away is a very famous site, but all is not well. Nature has been trying to reclaim the down, and a herd of Highland Cattle are being used to control vegetation. But during the winter, the rain softened the ground, leaving it rutted and looking horrible, We are hoping that it will improve, but then all there was to show were a few very sorry looking Early Purples, and the famed Monkeys, there was no sign. They might appear soon, we hope.
I snap some shots of the Early Purples, but it feels bad, this site, I hope it looks better in a few weeks, but already it is May, and spikes of all sorts should be showing.
We drive slowly back home in time for lunch: cheese and crackers, which is very nice. The wine wasn't such a good idea though.
The day passed into afternoon, as predicted the clouds rolled in, we listened to some music, I messed around online, and then it was time for dinner; roast spring lamb, boiled Jersey Royals and veggies. It was good, simple but delicious.
The day, the weekend had once again slipped though our fingers, and outside rain began to pour. Time for the working week again, my dear.
No comments:
Post a Comment