Forest & Fresh Air

Today I will continue with the nature theme. Sometimes I jump into my car, take the dogs with me and go to Tuorla, which is in Piikkiö, a municipality about 30 km from my home. In Tuorla, there is a school for agriculture and horticulture, but they also have a hostel, a small shop and a little country style restaurant, where one can have lunch or a cup of coffee or tea. In the shop they sell lots of products from small enterprises and farmers, either local or elsewhere from Finland. You can find there for example special jams, herbal teas or alcohol free drinks made from Finnish berries, plants and fruit. Or some delicious local goat´s cheese and typical Finnish bread.

I had lunch in the restaurant first, and then I took Opri and Peppi for that walk we always make, when we go to Tuorla. This time I had my camera with me, with a great intention to take many, many photos. But Opri was so unbelievably enthousiast about this stroll, that I was not able to do even a half of what I wanted. But here are some examples:





















This is one of the observatories belonging to Tuorla Observatory, which is part of the University of Turku and Väisälä Institute for Space Physics and Astronomy (VISPA).























The forest nearby is full of interesting subjects for photographing. Today the light conditions were very good. The weather was cloudy but dry, yet bright enough for shooting photos. One can see many kinds of lichens growing in the trees there. And what is particularly delightful to see is that the special hanging lichen, below, (naava in Finnish) thrives there, too.






















This kind of hanging lichen (usnea or alectoria) is very sensitive to pollution and will disappear if the air is not clean enough. Not too long ago this kind of lichen was not found in South-Finland, but the good sign really is that it has come back. And it looks so cute. It is as if a gnome had forgotten his beard hanging on a branch...

Then I noticed this lichen that looks totally different from the previous ones:

And there were many colourful "still life compositions" of mosses and leaves:


A little closer look:
















This small part of a fallen branch is yet full of life:
















This was also funny to see: in the fruitgarden of the school there were some apple trees with apples still hanging from the trees. Hmmm.... I wouldn´t recommend these for an apple pie or compote any longer, but the little mummies look all right on the picture.






















This was our day out today, I hope to post some other photos also next time we go somewhere. Have a relaxing weekend!