Foxy

 

Forestry works through Rhinefield Sandys' have seen tranches of forest exposed to the sky for the first time in years. Nature doesn't miss opportunities. This one wide strip has been nearly exclusively colonised by Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), and to beautiful affect.

View from the top

 

Imagine being this wood Ant (Formica rufa) surveying the vast wild expanse of the forest before you from the vantage of this towering Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea); must be a different world. Puts me in mind of Brian Aldiss' sci-fi novel Hothouse where far future humans live on an Earth choked with giant plants; good read if you enjoy the fantasy genres.

Rain drops keep falling

It may well be summer, although in traditional British fashion it rained for most of our walk this morning, and quite heavily at points. Throughout the stands the forest's Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) had their heads bowed in gratitude.....well, either that or in submission. 

Foxy

Beautiful Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), reign throughout Brinken Wood, Camel Green and Great Huntley Bank, their wonderful purple flowers like amethyst jewels when caught by the sun, punctuate the verdant greens of the stands. They're putting on quite a show this year.

Mutant Foxglove

A mutant Foxglove (Digitalis pupurea) with a terminal peloric flower (Digitalis purpurea monstrosa).