The bramble hedge on the south side of Troy Track, the hedge that has
been sheltering Emthree from the prevailing wind for many years, looks in a
very sorry condition this year. The
majority of the second year floricanes have died after fruiting and many are
not being replaced by first year primocanes.
As a result the whole thing is flopping over into the meadow beyond. I am not sure why this is, but I wonder if
many of the plants have simply expired of old-age.
This, of course, has let a larger amount of light into the ground layer
beneath the dead and collapsing brambles, though it is well-protected by
the thorny, coffee coloured stems. I
will scrutinise this area during the coming year and beyond to see how it
responds. But, as Schopenhauer wrote “we can never arrive at the real nature of things from without. However much we investigate, we can never reach anything but images and names.”
