Lockdown is lifted and we can journey into the ancient forest again.
An early start. On our short drive, the trees gradually reveal themselves in layers of green. The view is softened; we are watching the day form itself into shape.
The mist feels like a fine spring rain, yet suspended in mid air. The humidity is soothing to the skin.
My little daughter holds up her hands to catch the dew falling from the canopy above every time there is sudden breeze.
The clearing beside my favourite oak tree is now verdant with bright uncurling bracken. We are the only ones here. Just us seven and a chorus of birdsong; a wood pigeon questions and from a distance another answers. Directly above us a squabble results in a few feathers falling at our feet. My daughter picks one out of the soft damp ground, now-grubby fingers holding it skywards as if to offer it back to the owner.
We follow the path as it dips down. I look up to see the mist suspended above the canopy, obscuring the sky.
A few steps ahead, my daughter picks her way carefully over raised roots. She pauses and attempts to lift one, not yet understanding that these unmoving “twigs” belong to the giant trees that surround us.
Here in the lower part of the forest, the morning dew has settled on the foliage. Some small woodland resident passes by us unseen, brushing against the undergrowth, sending the droplets cascading to the ground.
Ivy clings to the trees and between its leaves there is a network of fine cobwebs. More adventurous spiders have swung from tree to tree to spin threads across our path, now shimmering in the early light. I try and duck beneath them, letting them stay in place a little longer.
Do I breathe this deeply and gladly at any other time? It is soon after this walk that we get into the habit of opening the doors and windows of our home every morning when we wake, to welcome in the fresh dawn air.
My daughter is beguiled by the foxgloves that tower above her. She draws ever closer to what she calls “bells” though goes no further as she heeds my gentle warning to leave the toxic flowers be.
We hike up a small track in the fern covered hillside to the forest’s highest point. My eldest son holds up low branches of holly for his little sister to walk safely beneath. We hear distant road traffic, other voices in the forest. A man walks his dog on the footpath below us.
The light has changed since we set out and the world is awake.
Visit my Little Art Shop: www.tinypotager.shop
Commission Enquiries: tinypotager@hotmail.com
Tiny Potager 
Incredibly beautiful
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Beth 🙂 I hope you’re keeping well x 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderfully written, with beautiful photos! 🥰🇬🇧
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much John! I need to catch up on your wonderful photography – I’ve been distracted away from WordPress these last few weeks by the forest 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
The forest sounds great! More fun than WordPress I’ll bet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love reading – but it is so nice to be in the great outdoors 🙂🌳🌳
LikeLike
These misty forest pictures look so magical!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Blanca! 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to live there.
D
LikeLiked by 1 person
😃 I wish I could move my house just a smidgen closer, so I could open my front door and be in the forest straight away 🌳🌳🌳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful misty morning shots.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Tootlepedal 🙂 I hope you’re keeping well 🌿
LikeLike
Wonderful, atmospheric photos with beautiful imagery in your writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Mary 🌿
LikeLike
It’s a bit misty here in the Australian Southern High-Lands as well and quite cold. Beautiful photos and you are a very good mother and photographer.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much Gerard x it’s meant to be the height of summer heat here at the moment, but the weather has gotten a bit confused this year and it’s a very misty end to June. I hope you’re keeping well 🌿
LikeLike
It’s like a fairyland!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is 🙂 and there is something magical about being up really early too, it’s like another world 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful.
I’ve been trying (and failing) for years to get a decent picture of foxgloves. Yours is great.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! I know what you mean – they are so towering that they catch the slightest breeze and blur the photo 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely atmospheric photographs with your usual beautiful prose, descriptive of the walk and your thoughts, feelings, and observations in it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Derrick. I hope all of Jackie’s beautiful roses are fairing okay if you are getting the same stormy gales as we are x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Roses are doing better than most – they are in quite a sheltered spot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love mist. Very pretty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sherry – I do too 🌿
LikeLike
Oh what beautiful pics, love walk, thank you ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Kellie – I’m glad you enjoyed it 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely words and images.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Laurie x I hope Cliff and yourself are keeping well x I’ve been out in the forests and have a lot of catching up to do with my blog reading 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are well. Thanks for asking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! What a delight your images on this post are! I am glad for you (and for your readers) that you can meander through the ancient forests again!) 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Tierney! It is *so* good to be back there. I love the small woodland near by, but there is something very special about a forest 🌳 I hope you’re keeping well x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your words and pictures felt like a charming fairy tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much 🌿
LikeLike
I love walking in the fog or mist, but we don’t get that here in the desert. LOL. Foxgloves are a perfect example of beautiful things that can be dangerous. I’m glad your daughter pays attention to what you tell her. Thanks for the lovely walk.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful as always!
LikeLike
Lovely atmosphere and beautiful photogenic place !!
LikeLike
Absolutely lovely stroll through the forest I just had. Thank you for taking me there. 🙂
LikeLike
Simply stunning.
LikeLike
Beautiful forest …nature is a great healer. Thanks
LikeLike
Thank you for taking us on a walk with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for joining us Eva 🙂
LikeLike
So beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Morag 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a magical day!
LikeLike
So beautiful 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🌿
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome 😊
LikeLike
How beautiful your words and photography, how nice the early morning, the dew and the trees, thank you for taking us on your walk. It also reminded me of walking with my grandchildren and their appreciation of nature. Very happy to have found your blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike