Yellow skunk cabbage and purple toothwort

Purple toothwort

After another enjoyable owners brunch 'n' brew in lovely spring sunshine I decided it was high time I had a bit of a nosey at the neighbours woods, and since most of them were around, it seemed like the perfect day for it.

Yellow skunk cabbage

Started with the furthest away, Wend wood, and a beautiful walk along the stream with Becky and Jude to see the escapees from Nymans gardens; first up was the purple toothwort, a parasitic plant that attaches itself to the roots of willows, Alders and other damp woodland trees, and soon to follow was the impressive yellow skunk cabbage - in full glorious flower (and not-so-glorious scent), also a lover of damp woodlands and waterside spots, it's looks very much like our native Arum lily, just much bigger, bolder and altogether showy.
It was apparently brought to our lands over 100 years ago and is likely to have been carried more recently from Nymans or washed downstream from High Beeches to settle on the banks all along Wend's borders. However it arrived, it's definitely made itself at home and is a real stunner in this season.
We wandered back along to Fallow wood where Jules and Paul were busy erecting a deer fence to protect some newly planted fruit trees and gave them cause to take a break and put the kettle on. We were chilling in the sunshine when Thelma and Peter came ambling down to join us. Thelma kindly took us over to see Magister wood where they string hammocks and camp out overlooking a large pond.
Everyone's portion of Blackfold wood is so different and it was really nice to see what everyone is doing and how they are progressing.