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Post by tod2 on Mar 2, 2015 11:23:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 11:32:55 GMT
Another set of magnificent photos. Even though late summer is beautiful in many parts of the world, dammit you get to see it in Africa!
When you get to the nature reserve, is there a central area with a car park, or is there no point in it because you are there by yourselves? And are all of the plants and flowers wild with no gardening?
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Post by tod2 on Mar 2, 2015 12:38:15 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Mar 2, 2015 14:22:53 GMT
Right. Let me answer your questions Kerouac. From the photos you will see it's only a dirt track with mowed grass under the trees. Here are the picnic tables, dirt bins and built-in BB Q's. And the toilets. One drives right up to the picnic table which is very handy for off-loading or keeping your foodstuff near at hand. Naturally if you wander off it's wise to lock your vehicle but we do feel completely at ease leaving it unlocked providing no valuables are inside.
On this Sunday there were very few other cars around and only three other picnickers. Some people only come to walk or see the wild flowers and plants. Nothing is cultivated - there are no gardens.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 14:45:13 GMT
In any case, it looks like a magnificent place for a picnic, even if there had not been tables and a WC. The setting is idyllic for such an outing. The birds and butterflies are outstanding, but basically everything is great, even your shots of the "weeds." How long is the drive from your home to go there? I sometimes wrack my brains to think of a natural place to go near Paris, but generally all natural sites here have 200 cars parked there when you arrive.
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Post by htmb on Mar 2, 2015 22:10:53 GMT
Tod, this is marvelous. I can't think of a better way to spend a peaceful morning than being out in nature, taking photos.
Your pictures of the butterflies are particularly lovely, but I also like your wide landscape shots.
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Post by fumobici on Mar 3, 2015 0:26:40 GMT
Fantastic set of photos again. Looks like a really pleasant day trip, so unlike anything I can experience here. Thank you.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 3, 2015 5:29:52 GMT
How long is the drive from your home to go there? I sometimes wrack my brains to think of a natural place to go near Paris, but generally all natural sites here have 200 cars parked there when you arrive. Kerouac, driving on a Sunday gets us to the turn-off in 25min, but it's slower on the dirt so that's another 30min. Thanks Htmb & Fumobici for your appreciation.
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Post by bjd on Mar 3, 2015 7:46:44 GMT
You are so lucky to have thorn trees, Tod. I think they are beautiful -- I do expect to see giraffes nibbling on them though.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 3, 2015 7:52:45 GMT
bjd - Yes, we expected those elusive giraffes too! They do have them on the Cumberland Nature Reserve but from memory I can say we have only seen them quite near on 1 occasion.
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Post by mossie on Mar 3, 2015 20:00:53 GMT
What a super bit of country, and all those exotic animals and butterflies, I am very envious. But thanks so much for showing us some wonderful country.
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Post by Don Cuevas on Mar 4, 2015 18:32:51 GMT
Very lovely. I especially liked the pic of the horses.
In the toilet picture: we have the almost identical, blue, covered plastic pail, but we use it for our compost peelings before carrying them out to the compost burial patch.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 5, 2015 7:42:35 GMT
Thank you Don. There is a notice nailed onto the door asking that no 'foreign matter' be flushed down the loo. Guess that's what the bucket is for. About compost peelings...mine kick off wrapped in old newsprint on the kitchen table, then progress to the bucket standing outside the kitchen door, then taken to the compost heap next day by the gardener. I have very very lovely compost! Also throw in those cardboard egg carriers.
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Post by patricklondon on Mar 5, 2015 11:54:18 GMT
Certainly makes a change from our more mundane urban parks and gardens. If I went over to Richmond Park, they have deer and sheep, and we have a city farm within walking distance -but sadly no impala and zebra, let alone such beautiful butterflies. My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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Post by tod2 on Mar 5, 2015 12:18:14 GMT
Ah! Patrick, I know both places well! Walked the length of Richmond Park and saw the beautiful deer feeding under the giant oaks. Then entered Isabella Plantation with those magnificent rhododendrons. Really enjoyed the City Farm too. Thanks for taking a look at my patch!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 12, 2015 4:05:26 GMT
Oh Tod, this is not only extremely interesting, it is SO beautiful. I love how you included all the wild weedy parts as well. Of course the photography, as always from you, is absolutely superb. We have dinky red cannas, but those lovely deep peach ones are so much more desirable. And the lilies! That photo with the grasshopper perched on the perfect white waxy bell is just fabulous. I was surprised to see pokeweed, which I think of as an American native. Got a laugh out of the pics of the toilets, followed by the sentence, "After relaxing and reading the Sunday papers ..." Can't believe how wonderful the butterfly pictures are, then to be followed with the very striking wildlife portraits -- wow!!!
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Post by tod2 on Mar 12, 2015 7:33:18 GMT
Luckily not in the loo Bixa! We brought along some fold up beach chairs....lot more comfortable! Thank you for reminding me about that 'weed' - Pokeweed. I used to have one in my garden but have not seen it for a year or more. Those lillies are the FORMOSA Lilly. It would be such a pity to get rid of them as the are classified as highly invasive. I am going to go back an edit some of the photos by adding the names. So far found two in my wildflower book.
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 15, 2015 13:59:05 GMT
What a nice way to spend the day. I would love to have a picnic under those thorn trees. You captured the place beautifully. The flowers and butterflies are gorgeous.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 15, 2015 15:03:34 GMT
Was that hawk carrying a SNAKE, tod, or perhaps just nesting material?
Or could it be a falconer's jesses?
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Post by tod2 on Mar 16, 2015 7:55:24 GMT
I don't think it was carrying anything Kimby.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 17, 2015 2:14:06 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Mar 17, 2015 7:38:56 GMT
Yes I think so. That is the swiftly flapping other wind
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