Fern Expedition

Last Sunday we visited quarry 't Rooth for a fern "expedition".

The kenderman is a member of the Dutch Fern society and I was allowed to join them.
The weather was perfect and the group was small...

Our guide had the key to this abandoned quarry.
This area is closed of and managed by the Limburgs Landschap.

 a not so rare but (to me) very beautiful chalk loving Asplenium trichomanes

(link in English and Dutch)

Polystichum aculeatum a.k.a. hard shield-fern (link in English and Dutch)

a rare and to me a new thistle : Carlina vulgaris (link in Dutch)

 a to me new Dipsacus: Dipsacus pilosus (link in Dutch)

Asplenium ceterach aka Rustyback (link in English and Dutch)

And just before we split up... some giveaways to whoever interested in ferns.

You can find a link to more fern posts here

La Douce France

The stunning view from our hotelroom... 

Back in August we decided to visit the French coast Côte d'Opale.

Longing to see Cap Gris-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez for ourselves.

Hoping for some clear weather so we would be able to see the British coast.

Last weekend we finally went...

 view from Cap Griz towards Cap Blanc

view at Wissant and Cap Blanc...

the black spots being surfers waiting to catch a nice wave...

Dogs love being on the beach but I doubt whether they like to sit in the mud...

Lots of action heroes at Wissant beach...

Who needs a beautician when you can get some free sandblasting? (smile)

being such a beautiful day full of stunning wide open views...

Winter White

Spring Walk

Above picture was taking just after the kenderman assured me
it wouldn't rain all afternoon and we left home... 

just before it started raining! (smile)

For a while we took shelter underneath the trees

and then we could continue our walk...

Passengers are not allowed to feed the sheep in any way

but the grass in their mostly plowed field is way too short now!
The Soays really appreciated the lucious grass the kenderman provided.

We were chuffed... until they started head butting for the grass...