APOLOGY. (22/08/14)

Sorry, I meant Sori which I assume must be the plural of Sor. I bet you think that I’ve finally flipped and will shortly be taken away by a couple of big people in a white van, clothed in a canvas jacket with back to front sleeves. Don’t panic.

I have been reading all about Bracken. The spores are the very devil to photograph. As soon as I remove the bit of fern they wander about all over. I did try wetting the paper and popping a book on the fern. The paper went all crinkly and cast more shadows than the errant spores.  I’ll try taping wet paper out on a board and stretching it first. I suspect all ferns do this so I will look for some different ones……bet you can’t wait.

         Sori. these are Sori they are the brown bits on the underside of the fern leaves. I read one learned paper on the internet that suggested that Bracken mainly spreads from it’s bottom or rhizomes, as I will say, to keep life simple, it’s roots. This chap thinks that they only produce Sori every ten years. Either I am very lucky or he knows F’All about Bracken. About half of them have them here. Some of the young leaves just have a lighter green raised stripe around the edges of each of the individual bits of frond I read that these are the male bits. I’m not explaining this very well. I’ll leave the leaves for a week and read some more and come back with proper terms. I don’t expect the ferns could care less. They are as old as the hills and have sorted reproduction to their own satisfaction.

            This is todays exposure of spores from the sori. This one is about three hours. I’ll try another overnight one. Mushrooms do it as well and as mushroom season is fast approaching I’d like to perfect this job.

The weather has taken a turn for the better. I am not getting dawn till dusk sunshine but at least it has only rained once today. Sorry twice, it has this minute started again. There is barely a breath of wind and amazingly no midges. There wasn’t much about on our walks. It was fish van day but he had no prawns left and no smoked haddock. I got a couple of kippers and a bit of fresh haddock. I’m trying to think of something other than kedgeree that would make a good tea.

    I tried out the FD 50mm lens and it didn’t disappoint they are beautifully soft when used with the SRB adaptor. It will be fine for video.

I also found the Dipper. I am amazed by these birds. Usually I see them perched on a rock in a stream but they can bob along like a duck. I will keep trying for a picture but they are illusive small blighters.

      The Dipper in appalling light this morning.

I’ll leave you with a sharp shot of the Loch Ness Monster.

      It was massive I couldn’t fit it all in at 100mm. I have always doubted it’s existence but having donated four pounds sixty seven pence to Parkinson or somebody I am a converted. I must admit that not only was I perturbed to find she is a giant pedallo; I was shocked to find I had four pounds sixty seven pence in change. I didn’t get a sticky badge. I didn’t even get the fit lass in a wet suit, I got the Rubenesque one with a bucket. Not to worry givers can’t be choosers when it comes to beggars.

Have a great weekend.