When the woodpecker pecks into the poplar.
Greetings from Anthering, my home. I’ll confess right at the start that this is the very first blog I’ve written here. So I’m very glad that you’re reading it right now.
Anthering has been my home for 23 years. I didn’t grow up here, but I spent a lot of time here with my grandparents as a child. After that, the place never let go of me.
It’s May, probably one of the most beautiful months of the year. Reason enough for me to start my research right now and introduce MY VILLAGE to you.
And what could be more obvious than the Antheringer Au. Google says everything there is to know about it. (Of course I looked it up too and most articles start like this: The hike through the Antheringer Au is a special nature experience at any time of year). That’s certainly true, but my aim is to let you feel what there is to feel there.
Now is the time of the blooming wild garlic. When I was allowed to dive into the green, pure nature directly from the Anthering local train station across the gate today, my nose was the first to catch the scent of May. The smell of garlic mixed with something very sweet that I couldn’t identify at the time – lured me further along the invitingly wide path under the huge oak trees. How many years have they been standing here? They could tell us countless stories. Powerful and yet protective, they are now densely covered with very young green leaves. I close my eyes, enjoy the wind and listen to the almost whispering rustle high up in the treetops.
It’s as if you discover something new here with every step. Flowers whose names I don’t know, dense tangles of leaves on the ground that still seem to have structure. Small young trees that are proud to call themselves tall, birdsong from busy nest builders.
I’m not alone here looking for relaxation; walkers, joggers and cyclists come towards me. Then again, I am completely alone with myself and the impressions.
It doesn’t take long for the first wild sow to cross my path. It pauses briefly, looks at me and runs on again – preoccupied with itself and looking for food. I wouldn’t call myself scared, but I do have respect for these creatures. She doesn’t have any young with her, otherwise such an encounter could be dangerous.
High up in a poplar tree, I hear a woodpecker tapping on the bark – I haven’t heard a woodpecker for a long time. It puts a smile on my face.
But the second smile is given to me by Toni Schwaiger, who comes towards me by chance. Toni is known here in the village as “THE MUSHROOM KNOWLEDGE” and he has an enormous knowledge of plants. He tells me that he is looking for young morels, which multiply via a network of spores under ash trees. Unfortunately without success today, it is too dry. The rain is still missing, then they will poke their heads out of the ground. Toni also tells me that the ash trees are dying, they are infected by a fungus that makes them “simply fall over”.
He also shows me the leaves of the autumn crocus, which are deadly poisonous. In contrast to lily of the valley, which is also dangerous but has no fatal consequences if eaten. Wild garlic looks very similar to both. So be careful when collecting!
We have a very amusing chat about the soldier beetle, oil beetle and Spanish fly… yes, you can google what the latter of these three beetles is said to be!
Toni also reveals the secret of what smells so sweet… it’s the blossoms of the poplars.
This balmy May evening invites you to linger here in the meadow. The reflections of light in the leaves of the trees are different and new after every meter I walk. I can hardly get enough of this spectacle.
On the way back I discover a tree stump that has been transformed into a work of art by a beaver.
And when you go for a walk, a jog or a bike ride here in the Au, you will take your own personal impressions home with you. I wish you a lot of heartfelt joy in this wonderful nature.
See you soon – the elf