poplar and mistletoe in Normandy, France
poplar and mistletoe in Normandy, France. Lumix GX7, 7mm, f5.6, 1/200sec, ISO125.

I escaped to France last week during the hiatus of the launch of The New Sylva – appropriately enough losing myself among the bocage and marais in Normandy.

There, Spring was well advanced yet the mornings full of misty promise. I stayed with my family in the very beautiful Parc naturel régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin (read more). I was amazed by the amount of mistletoe present on the trees among the hedgerows and marshes, which grew on nearly all tree species. Its favourite host appeared to be poplar.

I waited in the cold with my camera early one morning until the mist just accentuated the amazing growths of mistletoe on this poplar tree, while the top of the tree itself was lost in the low mist. There, down on the lowest part of the marais (marsh), skylark and moorhen accompanied me to the waking of a new dawn.

See more of my black & white photography

Gabriel Hemery

5 Comments

  1. Lovely photo! I too am enjoying my copy of The New Sylva. What a delightful treasury of knowledge and a real work of art! I am hoping to review it on my website – I wonder if I might contact you with just a couple of questions in due course? By this I mean perhaps some insight into the research and maybe a quote from you about compiling it!

  2. Just wanted to say I received my copy of The New Sylva and its absolutely wonderful a beautifully crafted piece of work from Sarah and yourself. Thank you so much great respect Rupert

    1. Author

      Thank you Rupert. That’s very generous of you. I hope you continue to enjoy it as you delve deeper. Best wishes Gabriel

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