Friday 12 September 2014

Week 36 10/09/2014 Fruits, Fungi and the Plane Truth

Photo Blog Week 36 - Wed 10 September 2014


A blue skied day with the sun highlighting the shades of green, yellow and gold appearing in the tree tops. In places, fallen leaves are beginning to crackle under foot. My patrol was limited this week by a strapped up knee so no visits to higher (or lower) ground. It was also kept shorter than normal. Hopefully back to full strength next week.

There are a lot of fungi appearing around the park. I am photographing them but making no attempt to identify. If you identify any from my photos and would like to contribute to this blog you are most welcome to submit your identification via comments.

route: (Stage 1) area around Admissions; Main Road Gate; partway up Cage Hill : return to car and relocate to Main Car Park


Sycamore, Maple, London Plane

Last week I admired a tree which I labelled as a 'Maple' in my post. I had thought the lobes of the leaves to be too sharp for a Sycamore. When this was questioned by Graham in a comment on the post I read up a little and discovered the London Plane which referred to orange patches on the bark and had sharper lobes.







Well, I revisited the tree in question this week and looked closer and Graham was correct, it is indeed a Sycamore. I kept my eyes open and further down you will see more Sycamore and a good Maple leaf. London Plane I have not seen.

follow tree name links above to explore these tree at National History Museum Identify Trees

Autumn leaves under Sycamores on Cage Hill

route: Hall & Stables; Mill Pond; Crow Wood; Timberyard complex


Replacement of degraded cobbles on the North Face

Blue sky and Autumn Gold amongst the green (Horse Chestnut)

Rhododendron Tunnels by the Mill Pond

Conker kernel on picnic table with squirrel teeth marks

Blue-grey mushroom in the grass

Looking across the mill pond, the high Park Moor can be seen above the House

Peculiar blood-red fungus near Crow Wood play scape

A recent Conservation Ranger project, steps in Crow Wood play scape

Part of the wonderful play scape. I'd have loved this as a kid.

More mushrooms. Apparently eaten - squirrels?

Wood Sorrel remains bright green among the undergrowth

Path winding through Crow Wood with a dusting of early fallen leaves
















This monster den in Crow Wood looks like an adult enterprise as it is over 6' high. 
It is unfortunate that it's builders haven't respected the oak saplings nearby.


Maple leaves familiar to the Canadian flag.
Note the 'spikey' tips f the lobes compared to Sycamore below. 

Dry brown seed covered spires of Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

 
Curly whisper seeds of Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium)

Broadleaf Plantain (Common Plantain) (Plantago major)

Maple? Maybe an ornamental version?

Hog Weed seed heads

Autumn colours by the culvert and stream in Crow Wood

Conker Time! Horse chestnut fruit

Blackberries looking juicy

Haven't identified this yet. 
There are two of these bushes in Crow Wood which I think are ornamental varieties are covered in brilliant red fruits.

Branches of a Copper Beech turning orange

Weeping Purple or Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica `Purpurea pendula`)
"Copper" Beech does not refer to the autumn-winter copper-gold colouring which all varieties carry but refers to the purplish toned leaves.

Sequoia in Crow Wood

Cluster of mushrooms on a log

Mature Sycamore

Sycamore leaves.
More rounded feel to the lobes than Maple with a clear saw tooth feel to the edges.

Nuts beginning to fall to the floor

Nature's Artwork: back lit Horse Chestnut against the shadows

puff ball type fungi

Red-purple topped mushroom
I have no idea when to refer to a 'mushroom' or a 'toad stool'

fungi cluster on an old stump

route: Car Park; The Knott; return to base


My favourite elevation of Lyme Hall.

This is the view designed for first impression. The main drive from the A6 at Disley is a later addition and this drive from the Westparkgate direction is the original approach. The grandeur of the Hall is emphasised by it's height raised above the lower garden. The high hedge at the boundary of the car park would not have been there but the garden would have been open enhancing the experience further.

Sweet Chestnut carrying lots of fruit

Drive out towards The Knott

Today's track


  4.2 miles  4 hr 00 mn 

(1.0 + 3.2 miles)

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