A Walk with Gentleman Farmer

Late Sunday afternoon, he asked if I would like to go on a little walk

with him. Behind our home is a woodland that we fondly call

The Hundred Acre Wood. It is at least 100 acres,

and I am sure much more.

Gentleman Farmer grew up on

our piece of land, and explored these woods as a child.

He explores them still. He hunts there,

dreams there ~ he brought me there for a picnic

on one of our very first dates. He loves these woods and

all the creatures it shelters within.

This day he wanted to see if he might

find some winter shed deer antlers. This is

the month that the bucks drop the old ones so

the new growth may start.

I gladly went along ~ I love these woods, too!

~*~

About a half a mile on the old overgrown road

we come to *the old orchard* (the site of our afore mentioned

picnic). The weather today is typical for March ~ stormy one moment

sunny the next. Looking out over the orchard and the rocky beach

toward our little town across the water. The sky is cloudy,

raindrops fall and whitecaps are whipped up by the wind.

~*~

~*~

The local oyster workers are tending the clam beds

while the tide is out.

~*~
Another quarter of a mile or so, Gentleman Farmer finds the
deer trail that he wants to check out for the winter sheds.



~*~

Evidence of last fall's big buck activity!
This is a tree showing *buck rub*. The male
deer like to polish up their antlers ~ for fighting,
attracting females, or just to get rid of their aggressions!
The bigger the tree ~ the bigger the deer!
This was a BIG BUCK!


~*~
While GF went further up the brushy trail,
I remained behind and enjoyed the (momentary)
sunshine. Here is an Oregon Grape in flower.


~*~

Ahh ~ no wonder the hummingbirds were buzzing around ~
here is one of their favorite early blooming nectar plants ~
the Red Currant.


~*~

Do you know what this plant is?
This is a common foxglove.
Doesn't the name just conjure up delightful
images of dainty little foxes donning their
velvety little mitts!


~*~
Oh, and here are some wild forget-me-nots!
They just carpet some areas of this wood in the Springtime!
No flowers yet, but soon!



If you look carefully, you can spot all sorts of flora and fauna
in these woods. Watch where you step ~ there is a tiny
creature of the forest floor ~ a snail. Oops! It's empty!
Looks like someone had an Escargot appetizer!


~*~

The sun was starting to fade behind the western hillside,
and the wind was beginning to rise again, so we start back
toward home ~ no antlers to be found this time.
We did spot some coyote tracks along the trail.


~*~

We are not the only travelers of the road!
It is getting on toward evening ~ deer are most often seen at this time.


~*~

Gentleman Farmer and I were chatting as we walked along,
and we spotted this young deer just over the side of the road ~
so engrossed in some tasty morsel that is didn't hear us
even as we whistled, called and finally shouted!



~*~

Our next walk to hunt for antlers is already planned out.
He knows just where he wants to look the next time!


~*~*~*~*~

Joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer
for Outdoor Wednesday!
~*~

"Blessed is the man the walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

Psalm 1:1&2