Walking From Abilly

This 6 kilometre walk with the Phoenix en Claise group was cancelled three weeks in a row because of bad weather, before we finally managed to get out on Monday 20 November 2023.

Fallen London Plane tree Platanus hispanica (Fr. Platane commun) leaves at the entrance to the Chateau of Abilly.

I think this is Cloud Funnel Clitocybe nebularis (Fr. Clitocybe nébuleux). This species is widely considered to be edible, but it has a very unpleasant cats piss smell, so I don't know why anyone does. Plus it is so similar to a couple of species toxic enough to give you a very uncomfortable time if you misidentify it. [Update: ID confirmed by Didier Raas.]

Dog Rose Rosa canina (Fr. Rosier des chiens) with beautiful pink thorns.

A pair of Percheron draft horses watch us pass under ominous skies.

Dog Rose hips (Fr. gratte-culs -- literally 'itchy arses', because the fine hairs inside the hips are so irritating to the digestive system when the hips are eaten).

La Manoir de la Chatiere, a medieval fortified farm.

The beautiful pink and orange berries of a Spindle Tree Euonymus europaeus (Fr. Fusain).

White Saddle mushroom Helvella crispa (Fr. Helvelle crépue). This is what they look like -- sort of torn and ragged, with very corded looking stems. They are typically found along tracks, as these were.

Reflections in the mill pond that would once have been part of the chateau estate.