MY WORLD ~ A Walk in the Woods

We went seeking our favourite walk in the Pinus radiata

plantation only to find the whole forest razed to the ground

and an uninspiring hill of stumps left. Somewhat daunted

we drove to our mushrooming spot only to find KEEP OUT

signs and Falling Tree warnings. There was heavy machinery

resting among the rows. Thank goodness it was the first day

of the year and even the loggers had a holiday.

Braving the prohibition signs and warnings that we were being

watched, we entered this sunlit cathedral of trees and breathed

in its warm fragrance feeling bereft that within a week or two

this too would be lost to us. There was birdsong all around us

but the trees stood silently fearful.

A mob of kangaroos spied in the distance as well as all the

birds would lose their homes. An ecosystem built up over

40 years would be no more.

With our unusually late spring rains, a crop of mushrooms

had surfaced and dried in the scorching sumer sun.

I found a comfortable seat on this stump that had brought forth

families of witchetty grubs, to sit and contemplate and try to

catch at least one of the multitude of butterflies in my sights.

It seems I took a little too long over it

but did catch one of those elusive critters after all.

So onward into the unknown, where will we find such places to

walk in so close to home?

As always, all photos enlarge.

A Happy New Year to all our Hosts at MY WORLD!

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