leviathans lose limbs

The forest today was warm and bright, the air was clean and fresh and although still moist under foot, had the feel of a balmy spring or late summer day. Walking through the woodland the damage caused by the recent winds were obvious to see; broken branches, from small to large, lay scattered over the woodland floor, occasionally you come to leviathan of a tree who has lost a limb or the tree that has been toppled completely and now lays down amongst the leaf litter, as if resting from a lengthy or arduous activity or both. More often this wont be the end of these trees. Trees missing limbs will survive for many many years, readjusting their weight to accommodate their new shape; whilst frequently those fallen trees will turn up towards the light keep going for as long as they can, sending fresh shoots upward in spring, often remaining for years. Even when a tree no longer grows it still retains a presence in the wood, in its skeletal form, it continues to be part of the woodland landscape, until after years it eventually does literally become part of the land and the wheel turns and the cycle continues on.

Passed the larch stand again today; what a difference a week makes. The greens, yellows and oranges which flamed last week have gone, replaced by rusty brown as the needles begin to fall. The canopies are beginning to thin out and conversely, the views are beginning to open up; glimpses through the trees of those views that only exist for a couple of months a year, when the forest has no roof on. The distance you can see through the woods extends dramatically.

There had been some Skulduggery a foot as the horse skull I found last week had been dis articulated again and the two parts put behind some grass tussocks; the two part reconnected the skull was left in peace..again.