The Fernery
We may well be lingering in the last throws of winter where our woodlands sleep waiting the spring to reawaken them to new life. But there is still some life to be found and thriving. Sheltering behind this moss covered wall a clump of Ferns have established themselves and creating their own little echo system.
Birch Bracket is also thriving in our older Birch Woodlands, many of the Birch are reaching their full term and are starting to crumble, for many a good wind will see them off. Meantime fungi in the varied shape and colours of Birch Bracket are making themselves at home on the decaying trees, starting the process of regeneration all over again….
Oak trees are a much more sturdy tree…even in their decline. The Oak trunk below may look bare but the head of this tree is still much alive though obviously showing signs of its age….but after several hundred years of facing the ravages of the weather who can blame it.
The interior of this trunk is now hollow having being eaten away by the Oak beetle and other wood eating insects. The outer shell, now bare in parts, still stands firm but does shows the signs that Fungi has also joined the feast.
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And so the Cycle of Life continues, a new season approaches, some woodland decays, but regeneration helped by Seeds, Fungi and Insects will continue.
13th February
(C) David Oakes 2015
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
Three of my very favorite F-words! I find the last image of the old oak particularly captivating with the exquisite lichenous textures leading the eye up and down. I can almost smell the fragrance of approaching spring.
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It is still cold here but it might sound strange but that cold has a different smell to it which you might understand…despite dull skies today the cold has a spring smell to it!
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Up early David – the last shot – an abstract is well seen – I have taken similar in the past but not recently – I recall seeing someone do a series on landscapes in miniature which impressed me where they looked in to small areas of the beach mimicking larger landscape forms. I have driven a lot of winter miles and I am sensing Spring around the corner- good morning 😀
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My Mum always used to say “Don’t tempt fate”……so best not to anticipate Spring too soon, I still fear that winter may well have a sting in its tail!
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