Until July 2017, documenting the seasons of coastal Dorset. I'm a complete amateur so don't trust I'm always right. If ever you see I'm wrong - whether with identifications or in anything else - do say! Meanwhile . . . I've now moved to Halifax in West Yorkshire. Click on the link below to collect the new URL. Don't forget to follow there!

Sunday 28 December 2014

I HAPPENED TO STAND BY A BRAMBLE

The underside of a bramble leaf showing prickles along the spine.

I don't know why I stopped. Maybe it was the way the light fell on a leaf. But there are so many leaves round here. So many brambles. Non-stop brambles really. They are a backdrop to everything.

The upper side of a still-green bramble leaf showing patches where it has been insect-grazed.





Well, I don't know. That's just how it was. I stopped. And having stopped. I saw. And the result? This. It isn't exactly a stuck foot post - but nearly. One branch. A few old leaves. A few old leaves and . . . and next year's new ones.

Here they are. Or, rather, here are a few hints. Every leaf is different. At this time of year the differences are even greater than at others. Their histories are longer and it shows. Their neighbours have gone, many of them; so their individuality is more easily seen.

A green and yellow bramble leaf showing miner tunnels and a hunk missing.

The bright red stem and thorns of the bramble.

It was Christmas Eve. I don't know why we like the idea of snow at Christmas. If there's meant to be snow at Christmas, fine. But here . . . it would be an oddity. Snow is a treat and if there is any it won't be till later. Christmas is a time for odd glimpses and blue skies and bright colours which leap out in cold moments. Quite a lot of gloom - then red or yellow. Thorns!

Next year's leaf buds nestling against the branch between remains of this year's leaves.



And in among the thorns - next year. 2015.



HAPPY NEW YEAR!












P.S.
More about Stuck Foot Posts.

All photos in this post are of the same bramble (blackberry) branch.
They were all taken within a few minutes of each other on the afternoon of Christmas Eve 2014.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see what you mean about the signs of new growth being such a lift to the spirits. Happy New Year Lucy & many thanks for hosting nature's memes

Anonymous said...

I started pruning my, now nearly leafless, blackberry bush recently and there were already plenty of signs of new growth.
Happy New Year! Flighty xx

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Morning, Laura. We are both noticing yellow! It's so bright and cheering - along with the new shoots.

Hello Mike. I think it was with blackcurrant (rather than with blackberry) bushes that I first noticed how woody plants get ready early for the next season. Blackcurrants and a sycamore next to a railway bridge. After that a horse-chestnut. Once one notices . . . how ever could I have ever missed this is what happens for so much of my life?!

Happy New Year to you both.

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

Happy New Year to you too Lucy. Our brambles are covered in snow at the moment and would make a lovely photography subject :)

sweetbriardreams said...

There are still quite a few leaves on bushes around my garden, although covered in the remnants of snow that we received a couple of days ago (a white Boxing Day instead of a white Christmas!). Careful of those thorns!!

sweetbriardreams said...

There are still quite a few leaves on bushes around my garden, although covered in the remnants of snow that we received a couple of days ago (a white Boxing Day instead of a white Christmas!). Careful of those thorns!!

elaine said...

Well done for close observance - when I kept goats I was always grateful for brambles - the only leaves around in winter besides ivy - the goats loved both - me, not so much I always came back from my foraging excursions full of cuts and scratches. Happy new year.181

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Rosie. I expect there will be snow pictures on your blog some time - unlikely to have any here but if we do . . . I'll make the most of it!

Hello Chel - snow too! (Despite my bravado about not having snow - I would have been thrilled if it really had snowed here at Christmas.)

Hello Elaine. I think I remember seeing donkeys eating holly. Would your bramble-eating goats go that far?

Donna said...

Lucy I love the idea of next year's growth between the thorns...I will have a Stuck Foot or you in January...Happy New Year.

Angie said...

Brambles here are bare, I had a walk along the river yesterday and no signs of life.
My first time visiting your blog Lucy - I must have a wee nosey around!

Anonymous said...

I have always thought brambles look too messy to investigate, but you have made them appear glorious! I must look again. All the best for 2015 :)

Lyn said...

Happy 2015 Lucy, thank you for letting me play along with the tree following. I started late (in April) so still have a few months left to do before I do a whole year.
xxx

Sandie said...

What wonderful photos Lucy!! You have made the humble bramble look amazing! In actual fact it does have lovely colouring and I love the deep red stems and thorns, they look even better in a photo as there is less risk of getting painfully caught up in them!
You might be interested in linking into my monthly neme 5 in 5. This is where I invite you to take as many photos in 5 minutes and to post 5 of them. Exactly what you have done here! The link is open from 5th to 25th of each month. I will certainly be looking for a tree to follow and using this as a theme for one of my future posts.
You'll find more about it here:
http://itchifingers.blogspot.com