Last weekend was a long weekend for us here in Germany, as Pentecost Monday is a holiday. I spent it at O.K.'s, and we were out and about quite a lot, starting with a family BBQ (and my first frisbee game ever!) on Saturday. Sunday saw us out for a leisurely run; for me, it was the first time I made more than 7 km since before my OP. I am still far from feeling as fit as I want to, but I am getting there.
We ran along a path that gave us a good view of the surrounding hilly area, covered in the aforementioned fields, orchards and vineyards. In the not too far distance, we could make out a field that looked very red. We couldn't see it well enough to determine what it was; possibly a mesh covering to protect flowers and/or fruit from birds? We spent the rest of the day doing other things, but in the evening decided to walk there and find out.
Have you ever seen something from a distance and tried to get there, without exactly knowing which paths lead there? Well, of course O.K. is familiar with the area, and I have a pretty good orientation now after being a regular visitor for more than 2 years, but we did not know which paths would take us there on the most direct route. It was lovely soft evening light (and there were those scents!), though, and we didn't mind taking the odd extra turn.
Eventually, we reached the far corner of the red field - it was all poppies! A very large field it was, and actually, it was a pale violet form of cultivated poppies. In between the large violet ones were single red ones of the "wild" variety, and in the one corner, they had really gone to town, growing so densely that that part of the field looked completely red from afar. So, no protective plastic mesh, just beautiful flowers!
We arrived home with very little light left, it was almost dark by then but well past 9:00 pm. Our investigative walk had taken us about 2 1/2 hours, and we were ready for something to eat.
It was dusk by the time we had reached the field, so for the light and the angle we were at, a picture wasn't going to come out well. Therefore, I have to leave it to your imagination.
But I have a few other pictures for you. The first one is for Kay - we often walk past this allotment; its owners seem to be very fond of hearts :-)
This one was taken on Monday. We met friends at a restaurant situated at the edge of the Black Forest, about 15 minutes drive from O.K.'s village. It used to be a working mill, and the wheel is still supposed to be turning, but it is overgrown with ivy and needs some cleaning up. From our table in the beer garden I had a good view of the wheel. The whole setting is rather romantic, but our stay there ended rather sudden when the sky went all dark and thunderstorm-like rain began to fall.
The train trips to and from O.K.'s went well, in spite of the changed schedule (see my last post). But they take up more time now, which means I arrive later and have to leave earlier... ho-hum!
The watermill looks like the mills in some of the fairytale books I read as a child. They were quite old, had belonged to my parents or grandparents, and I think had been illustrated by artists who used German visual references, as that would have been the kind of thing illustrators did at the time. The first time I revisited Germany as an adult I was blown away by an exhibition in some town hall of children's story crafts done by members of a seniors club. They'd done some lovely work which was quite traditional in style too, including characters that don't featurein modern fairytale books at all.
ReplyDeleteA lot about the Black Forest has fairtytale quality, I think! It is an area of much beauty, and deeply ingrained in the collective cultural knowledge of southern Germany.
DeleteA field of poppies? Are you sure you weren't outside the city of Oz? :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the lovely scents this time of year. In my area we're currently enjoying the scent of magnolias and gardenias.
Funnily enough, Jennifer, the nearest city to O.K.'s village also starts with an O - therefore, it could just as well be Oz, but I'm afraid I have not yet found the yellow brick road :-)
DeleteHow beautifully you describe the sights and scents of spring...I smiled at your mention of the fields of poppies. My late husband loved poppies and once in the '70s when we were driving in the country we saw a gorgeous field of red poppies. He jumped out of the car to photograph them, and then, very quickly, jumped back into the car. A Russian army base was just behind that field of poppies and they did not enjoy having people photograph their bases!
ReplyDeleteAs always, I am glad if a post of mine manages to evoke fond memories in you, Kristi!
DeleteOh yes, I bet those Russian soldiers were not amused...!
You made a good trip. I want to get in the mill to grind my buckwheat for tasty noodles.
ReplyDeleteThe millstone is long gone, crane - it's all a restaurant and a few rooms for overnight guests now. But tasty noodles are always a good idea!
DeleteA picture of the field of poppies from afar and then again when you reached it would have been lovely. Next year perhaps!
ReplyDeleteThe light and our respective position simply wouldn't lend itself to pictures worth showing. I briefly considered nicking "sample" pictures from elsewhere on the web but decided against it; nothing seemed to really fit.
DeleteThere are very few wild poppy fields here but if there is one you can be sure that a lot of photographers park along the road and take photos.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are, you live in a beautiful part of my homeland; I can only dream that I will be able to visit again.
Maybe if Brexit has its way the Brits will throw me out and then I’ll have to come back to Germany.
Somehow I can not imagine people like you, who have lived for so long in the UK and were married there (to a British citizen), will have to leave post-Brexit. But a trip to your old Heimat, just visiting, could be quite interesting in so many ways, I imagine.
DeleteYes, where I live is beautiful, too, but the Ortenau (where O.K.'s village is) has the benefit of having both the Rhine and the Black Forest.
From your posts, I really think Germany is a kind of paradise. I can't imagine a field of poppies. Are other Germans walkers and explorers like you? Is it common to go for such long walks? Anyhow, you are living a wonderful life!
ReplyDeleteI do indeed live a wonderful life, Nan, and I know it and am most grateful for it.
DeleteYes, hiking and walking are very popular pastimes in Germany. Cycling and running, too. We have beautiful countryside and varied landscapes, from beaches to mountains with everything in between, but heavy industrialised zones and densely populated, ever-growing cities threaten it, like in most other countries.