'A Small World'- August in the Boglands
August in the boglands is a riot of colour, sound and transformation. The long grassy meadows hum, and buzz like a miniature symphony playing along with every tentative step. Wild purple vetch, clover, and valerian sprinkle the lush plains as if a giant had emptied his pockets of the last remaining crumbs.
The closer I look, the more I see; a fluffy bumble skipping from each bloom, a tiny baby frog leaping between the tall blades of grass, or a pair of magnificent elephant hawk caterpillars greedily devouring the giant willowherb. One could feel quite like they have entered down the rabbit hole into Alice’s whimsical wonderland.
There is a ferocious lushness to the landscape. Familiar trackways and narrow paths through the fields and hedgerows are swallowed by the powerful clutches of brambles and late summer verdure. It is all aided by sultry zephyrs laden with rain, that continue to add vigour, and encourage the proliferation of all life forms.
It is a fascinating time of year to observe what surrounds us in nature, and marvel at how the world beneath our feet thrives and continues on its cycle of life regardless of anything else. There is so much we can learn from it: to let go, breathe, and take a moment to enjoy, ponder, and be grateful that we live in a world of immeasurable beauty. -Gillian x
The wildflower meadows buzzing with pollinators.
My little froggy friends, so gentle and friendly.
And very photogenic!
The swaying golden grasses are simply pure romance at this time of year.
A stunning elephant hawk caterpillar enjoying his willowherb treats. They also love other nectar rich plants such as fuchsia and honeysuckle.
The elephant hawk caterpillar also can be brown, like this little fella. After they have gorged on nectar during the summer months, they hibernate until next May when they emerge as a beautiful purple streaked moth.
All images and content © LOST FOREST by Gillian Corcoran. All rights reserved.