Lichens

OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVENTURE

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While seagulls and other sea birds fly in the wind to the sound of their own piercing keow, and the crow family fight them for the food that an elderly man is putting on the sea wall, I stroll past them on my way to the coast walk in beautiful Schull.  They, the birds, don’t bat an eyelid and continue their fervent snatching and feeding. The man never looks up, so intent on his dedication to the birds.

It is a sunny but very windy winter’s morning.

I’ve just past the path where a robin took my attention, it came up close and was making some sounds but not singing, that started later.  It was the most beautiful little creature, its colours vibrant, this got me thinking that it was a male bird and that the mating season is not far off.

What fascinates me on this path are the trees.  Ever since I did a short course last year on tree identification during the winter season, I keep wondering what this or that tree is called.  I can recognise the obvious ones of course, and now I know an ash tree when I see one, its seeds, winged samaras or keys hanging down from twigs with black buds give them away.  Seeing that we have a fair (but not huge) amount of trees here in West Cork, I’m thinking of taking a further course in tree identification as it’s fun to recognise what we learn.

Celandine leaves, and here and there the yellow of the flowers are already to be seen, as are a more plentiful sight of winter heliotrope plants in flower, their pink breaking their greyish leaves along the path.  Ferns and old man’s beard are plentiful along this walk, as is ivy covered in thick berries.

Walking further along the coastline, there is plenty to see, the rocks are covered with interesting lichens, as well as seaweeds, and sea glass can be found.  The rocks themselves Devonian mud and sandstones, look dark and some of them are quite jagged but some are really smooth.

The sea here is part of Schull Harbour which opens onto the Atlantic Ocean, where it is studded with a variety of islands.  During the calmer months the harbour is a lovely sight with all the yachts and plenty of activity.

Mount Gabriel overlooks this whole area, it is a hill 407 m high. Two radar domes are to be seen on top, they monitor civilian aircraft in parts of Ireland’s air space.  Recently I have travelled along the western side of this mountain on the way to Bantry, I drove through the Barancleeve Gap along which is where archaeological evidence of extensive copper and barite mining operations during the Early to Middle Bronze Age is found.  I would like to explore.  And looking at my map I have just discovered a few more little roads in the surrounding area which might be of interest.

Barancleeve Gap

Memories of the area… Once, when I first came to Ireland with my family, I spent a year in Cork city as an au-pair, and the family took me with them for a month’s holiday to Crookhaven.  I still have wonderful memories of that time, all I had to do was walk the toddler to Barley Cove beach and entertain him.  It is there that I discovered coral and the bleached skeletons of sea urchins, and walking along the roads I noticed many wild seaside plants.  Crookhaven is about 23km from Schull, it is a peninsula and has a very rocky shore towards the top end facing the Atlantic, looking over this view, it was an amazing sight, and very invigorating as strong winds blow relentless there.

Views from the nursing home which is situated at Colla road in Schull and is a lovely place.

Seeing that I have the occasion to travel to Schull twice a week to visit Ian in the nursing home, which also lies along this coast line and has lovely views overlooking Schull Harbour, I’m spoiled really with a wealth of interesting walks and great photo opportunities. And with spring and summer coming up I look forward to this, map in hand and Google for research as a stand by. There is lots to discover I think, and I will take full opportunity of combining both seeing Ian and discovering this amazing landscape and what it has to offer.

LICHENS i FOUND GROWING IN WEST CORK

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This Sunday afternoon I had a look through my recent photos of some of the lichens that I find growing in the area here, some of them in our own garden, others are found in the local forests of West Cork, growing on trees but also on rocks, on stone buildings, on roofs. Our own roof has some orange lichen (I read that this is a sign that we live in a clean environment… no pollution). I love lichen and find them fascinating but so far I have not had much luck with identifying them, for proper identification you need more than the naked eye, a microscope or at least a hand lens. So I’m not going to attempt to put identification with my photos as yet. Lichens are a combination of a fungus and one or more algae in a mutually symbiotic relationship. I read that the algae do the photosynthesis, providing the fungi with energy for reproduction, the fungi in turn provide structural form and protect the lichen from bright light . I find lichen beautiful and in fact would love a workshop on their identification, it would be very interesting especially as there are so many types of them growing here.

On the prompt of my brother-in-law I looked up this wonderful educational website: of the British Lichen Society ~ https://britishlichensociety.org.uk/learning/about-lichens: I’m sure it will be very useful for yours truly and for anyone else interested in lichen. Thanks Colin!

This lichen is growing on our chestnut tree

Lichens are found on so many trees.

Such an intricate pattern.

MYROSS WOOD ON A MISTY DAY IN APRIL

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This misty Sunday afternoon was a good time for a walk in Myross wood. I’d been to the plant sale there and after picking some new plants for the garden, and a cup of tea that is just what I did. The birds were singing and there was a wealth of new life, flowers and plants, young leaves on the trees as well. I found plenty of beautiful mosses and lichens, also some fungi. As it has been rather wet the last week the woods were full of moisture and many of the plants had rain or mist drops dripping off them. An ideal way to see the forest, beautiful and calm, no wind. There were few other walkers. I could hear the brook from afar adding to an overall feel of dampness which in fact did not disturb me, rather it gave me a refreshing feeling. April in West Cork can be a nice month, still chilly at times but when the sun comes through it gives all of its warmth at once, a very nice feeling that is. Often the month of May is already our summer with temperature going over 20degrees Celsius. But seeing that it is still April the days can be unpredictable, today was misty and windstill, very quiet. The detail that is to be found on the forest floor among some of last autumn’s leaves is amazing, all the new life, so fresh and delicate, beautiful and interesting too. I found plenty of that today. The many photos that I took of the lichen I’ll be showing in another blog post, I simply love lichen and mosses too. Meanwhile enjoy what follows today and thank you for visiting.

SPONTANEOUS ART IN NATURE

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While waiting for a lift with my daughter, her husband and my grandchildren to travel today I spent this time taking some photos of knots in the Chestnut and Pine trees lining the little park on the outskirts of our town. I also wanted to take some photos of the lichens growing on their trunks, and so I did that too.
It was a glorious and still Sunday morning.
  • The now leafless chestnut tree
This Chestnut tree is marked by several interesting looking knots, created when the tree was younger by some damage or disease. Interesting and pleasing to the eye.
Some high Pine trees grow side to side with the Chestnut trees. Lichens and some mosses cover their bark.
I’m always fascinated by the bark of trees, they show the most intricate and lovely patterns and subtle colours. Above are some examples of these;
A knot in the Pine tree trunk. Lichens and moss invading a trunk. A close-up of a bark design.
Just as my family arrived I noticed many beech nuts covering an area near the gate.
A colourful leaf of a Cherry Blossom tree twirled toward the lowers shrubs.
This small park is noted for its variety of trees, I often like to take my grandchildren there especially in early autumn to look for conkers, it is nice all around.

SOME THOUGHTS

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From inert fossils and lichens, to the very much alive and energetic lizards, bees and ants, and a huge range of other creatures, the flowers, trees, the amazing rocks and limestone buildings, the land here has such riches to offer for the eye and the mind.  It will take me a while to analyse it all.  I have taken so many photos while here, and I still have so much in mind to write about.  I am still finding out about the agriculture, the organic and permaculture on Gozo.  I’m also reading up about the local bees, the honey, the production of local wines, the economy of the land.  I have met local people on buses and in shops and we have had great chats, I have also visited the libraries and talked with people at an art exhibition.  I find the Gozitans very approachable, they are friendly people and welcoming to strangers.