30 Days Wild (Day 18) White Cart

The sunshine is welcome tonight. The wind gentle and cool. Walking along the river seemed like the right thing to do and it was. The river bank thick with hogweed and notweed. The trees on the bank - mostly large sycamores are lush and make home to the birds who were singing night songs, maybe lullabies. Around tenements avenues and corridors dusk comes earlier.

Children playing. The sound of bicycle bells. Goldfinch flited between telephone wires and lampposts back into foliage. Blackbirds foraged their evening meal. The mallards glided up and down. I cupped my hands from the sun and watched a green finch in a large conifer. People walking their dogs - the old wheezing one made me smile.

kids throwing stones
into the river
- sunset 

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30 Days Wild (Day 17) Court Knowe

Court Knowe is a hill in Cathcart across from Linn Park. The area is very significant in Scottish history and you can read more about that here. Asides from the importance of the place historically one can get an amazing view from the city and it's a good place to rest and catch your thoughts.

The weather has been drizzly and humid for the last few days and today was no different. With the humidity there was lots of flies and midges around the tall grass and trees. The usual fare of birds were either singing or making their presence known - green finch, blue tits, magpies etc. The trees are in full summer force right now and even though they block a little of the view of the city they are quite stunning in their age and health.

humidity -
the flies follow
my bad posture

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30 Days Wild (Day 15) Community Gardens

Today's blog is a spiritual sequel to last weeks 'around the block' blog. I am fortunate enough to live within a mile or so of two community gardens. With the weather being so ropey tonight I took a walk to the closer Battlefield Community garden. Right now the garden is full of wonderful flowers and as always is in great condition. The raised bed are full of colour and the garden is pure perfection. The ornamental poppies are breath taking and they really are worth seeing with the other lush colours and greens.

Community gardens are a great new addition over the last few years to many cities and suburbs - I wish they were as common where and when I grew up. Many of them run like an open allotment which is good for people either not able to get an allotment or unable to commit to such an endeavor. They also serve as learning institutions - places where kids can learn about nature and important garden skills.

flower viewing -
finding a hole
in my rain jacket

More info on the garden here

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30 Days Wild (Day 14) White Cart

Starting its course in Eaglesham the White Cart Water eventually flows into the Clyde just passed Paisley. Along its saunter it takes in the marked route 'The White Cart Route' leading from Pollok House to Holmlea House. Along this stretch I commonly spot the kingfisher's electric blue flash, Goosanders and other common water birds.

I walked this route today it's a very familiar route to me but nonetheless always interesting and engaging for its nature and rich architecture. The weather was overcast and cool but dry which is always nice. The regular bird life observed - the grey wagtails near Weir's Pumps factory are always nice to watch for a moment or two. A little further along starling fledglings quite confidently ignore me as I pass by. The river was quite low and you could see a litany of dumped goods none stranger than a shiny metallic headboard.

late spring sky -
a kingfisher's
blue flash


http://www.cartblanche.org.uk/pdf/Cart%20blanche%20Leaflet.pdf


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30 Days Wild (Day 13) Cathkin Park

Cathkin Park houses the remnants of an old football stadium, the second Hampden Park and home to the famous 3rd Lanark, surrounded by a small wooded area. It's a lesser known park, outside of history and football enthusiasts, with being quite close to the larger Queens Park but nonetheless worth seeing if you're in the area for its historic significance as well as the unique remnants of the stadium contrasted with the small wooded area. 

Today continued in its overcast grey drizzle - but it is what it is. The walk was nice though. City parks provide this weird postcard of how things are. Sure the busy roads and what have you might mute the bees but it's still there. The high rises are shadow the even tallest trees. The city park is like a little slice of the intensity and strength of the natural world; regardless of our progress it still pushes through. This aside it can simply provide a place to relax or sit for a few minutes. 

ruined stadium -
all that remains
are bird songs

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30 Days Wild (Day 12) Listening to the garden

In interacting with nature there is a lot of emphasis on looking but perhaps we can learn something from just listening. Today's 30days wild comes in the form of a field recording from my little garden in Glasgow. You'll hear the sounds that make up a large part of my day-to-day environment - radios from parked cars, passing vehicles and people, blackbirds, robins, gulls amongst other things (see what you can find).

https://soundcloud.com/the-importance-of-birds/in-the-garden

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30 Days Wild (Day 11) Queens Park

So the weekend is here and a change in the weather has inevitably arrived. For the last two weeks the weather has been hot and dry in Glasgow. With the first rain in a long time I feel somewhat reflective. Looking back on Spring, which is all but spent, and the last 10 days of 30 Days Wild I feel I've really observed and been a part of this season from the daffodils via cherry blossom to the foxglove and other flowers. It's been above warm in temperature and being outside and making the most of it has been quite easy.

I couldn't spend the whole day sitting looking back so I got my waterproof jacket back out and took a stroll to Queens Park. I always enter Queens Park at the Langside Obelisk and Glass house side even before the massive waterworks at the Victoria Road entrance commenced. I enjoy this side of the park as its generally a lot quieter and little bit more wild. The lush green of the trees  and the roses in the rose garden are at home in the returning rain - the green just that little bit more lush in appreciation. I can almost feel the joy in the damp smell of warm rain on grass. The dry weather has really taken its toll on the park especially in the smaller nature pond next to the larger model boat pond. It looks little more than a large puddle.

warm weather -
the duck's legs
growing longer

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