an evening walk after the rain

the rain had just let up as i got to the edge of the forest

a few meters inside there are huge patches of nearly black young horsetails covering the ground.

norway maple

and beech are prevalent but there is a surprising variety of tree species for such a small forest

it's quite dark but i am hoping the evening sun will soon break through the clouds.

there are many fallen trees, some with interesting fungi growing on them. i went to check up on a large Fomitopsis pinicola, red belted bracket fungus, that i spotted here last winter when it was a young and pure white conk. now it has matured somewhat with the typical red-orange color but it is still quite young and white. and the sun is starting to break through the clouds

i took a small side path east to the Larviksfjord where it is open and much lighter. a variety of nice spring wildflowers await me. hypochaeris maculata, spotted cat's ear is not so common here so it is a pleasure to find some

the wild roses are plentiful and they are looking lovely with a few raindrops on them

a peculiarly shaped base of a tree with the roots is lying on the shore. i guess it has drifted down the river and washed up here.

from the point there is a good view over to the nearby housing development, Sjøparken built partially out over the sea

the small path along the rocky shore has nice views to the east where the sky is still white but to the west it is clearing up

the coastline is dotted with world war 2 gun mounts and bunkers and such. this one has been redecorated more recently.

walking westward brings me to Lillevik beach, a small shallow natural beach with plenty of driftwood all around. many of the logs have a distinct animistic appearance

one log close to the rosebushes on forest edge is infested with shapely Gloeophyllum sepiarium, rusty gilled polypore

and the lovely Silene dioica, red campion has started to bloom

for the most part the beach is kept in its natural state and the local bathers clean up any trash. the shiny golden-colored stuff is not plastic but rather some algae that has washed up on the sand.

some of the driftwood will be collected to make a popular bonfire on midsummer's night. there is plenty of it and more washes up regularly. but now it is getting late and it is time to head back home