The bough of the Alder has fallen across the woodland path, sounding the death knell of this aged tree. Yet where death goes, life follows and flourishes, life moves on.
May 2018, local wood carpeted with Bluebells, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
Nature Journeys 
Just yesterday I was grief-stricken to find that an entire field that had been filled with our version of bluebells had been mowed: “scalped” might be a better word. The plants were just emerging, and were about six inches high. I’d been watching them for a couple of weeks, and now — gone. In the same way, the roadsides in my favorite wildlife refuge had been broadly mowed — the whole place looked like a suburban neighborhood. I was so distraught, I turned around and left. I hope when I manage to go back, I’ll find that life is, indeed, returning. I understand the need for management, but my goodness — what a disappointment.
It’s good to see your bluebells. It’s harder to mow in a woods!
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Bluebells are well protected by law here. I am sorry to know your bluebells had been mowed. It is such a terrible thing. Sometimes it is best to let nature just be. I do hope life returns there.
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Since my tiny little rant, it has occurred to me that it might have been done as a safety issue, since there are alligators galore in the wildlife refuge, and a broader swath of cut grass would allow visitors who are less cautious a better chance of spotting one that had decided to make its presence known. 🙂
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I guess its best losing sight of the bluebells than getting eaten by an alligator! 🙂
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Nice composition. It’s very easy to walk past a scene like this. I know I do.
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Thank you, Ted 🙂 I almost did, then stopped, looked some more and thought let’s give it a shot, or two.
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Very nice. I like the way the fallen branch is framed by the two saplings and small branch.
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Thank you, David 🙂 I had to retake the shot to get the balance I was after.
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amazing!
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Thank you, Joke-dev 🙂
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It is like a beautiful painting!
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Thank you, Eliza 🙂
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