This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/06/a-storm-then-strong-scents-steam-and-snails
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| A storm, then strong scents, steam and snails | A storm, then strong scents, steam and snails |
| (3 days later) | |
| Egglestone, Teesdale For some, rain came as a blessed relief after days of drought and the downpour coaxed snails out to graze | Egglestone, Teesdale For some, rain came as a blessed relief after days of drought and the downpour coaxed snails out to graze |
| Phil Gates | Phil Gates |
| Thu 6 Jul 2017 05.30 BST | Thu 6 Jul 2017 05.30 BST |
| Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 17.07 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| View more sharing options | View more sharing options |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Close | Close |
| The storm faded away to a distant rumble of thunder over the hills, taking with it the sticky heat of the past few days and leaving us shivering, in wet clothes, under a sheltering oak. | The storm faded away to a distant rumble of thunder over the hills, taking with it the sticky heat of the past few days and leaving us shivering, in wet clothes, under a sheltering oak. |
| As we emerged, so did the insects. I watched a shield bug ease itself around the edge of a leaf back into the light, picking a path between wobbling water droplets. Spiders abseiled between grass stems, repairing webs. Within a few minutes bumblebees were at work again, shaking rain from water-laden bramble flowers. | As we emerged, so did the insects. I watched a shield bug ease itself around the edge of a leaf back into the light, picking a path between wobbling water droplets. Spiders abseiled between grass stems, repairing webs. Within a few minutes bumblebees were at work again, shaking rain from water-laden bramble flowers. |
| The moments after a thunderstorm seem to heighten the sense of smell, perhaps because still, moisture-laden, air becomes saturated with dissolved floral scents. Along a hedgerow, the musky, high-summer, odour of elder blossom and the sweet fragrance of wild roses were especially intense. | The moments after a thunderstorm seem to heighten the sense of smell, perhaps because still, moisture-laden, air becomes saturated with dissolved floral scents. Along a hedgerow, the musky, high-summer, odour of elder blossom and the sweet fragrance of wild roses were especially intense. |
| A tropical, fruity, aroma rose from the carpet of pineapple weed, Matricaria discoidea, crushed under our feet along the footpath around the edge of a wheat field. | A tropical, fruity, aroma rose from the carpet of pineapple weed, Matricaria discoidea, crushed under our feet along the footpath around the edge of a wheat field. |
| By the time we reached the lane leading to the Meeting of the Waters, the confluence of the rivers Tees and Greta, our clothes had begun to dry and we slackened our pace. | By the time we reached the lane leading to the Meeting of the Waters, the confluence of the rivers Tees and Greta, our clothes had begun to dry and we slackened our pace. |
| The sun had broken through. A meadow brown butterfly, wings pressed flat on the road, basked in the heat, reluctant to fly until we were a footstep away. | The sun had broken through. A meadow brown butterfly, wings pressed flat on the road, basked in the heat, reluctant to fly until we were a footstep away. |
| Wisps of steam drifted upwards from the drying asphalt, and convection currents of rising air sucked in a breeze that shook water from hogweed umbels, where hoverflies were already settling to feed. | Wisps of steam drifted upwards from the drying asphalt, and convection currents of rising air sucked in a breeze that shook water from hogweed umbels, where hoverflies were already settling to feed. |
| For some the rain had come as a blessed relief. At the humpback bridge over the Greta we found scores of snails gliding along the walls, leaving glistening trails. After days of drought spent hiding behind a curtain of ivy, the sudden downpour had coaxed garden snails, Helix aspersa, out to graze on the algae coating the wet rocks. | For some the rain had come as a blessed relief. At the humpback bridge over the Greta we found scores of snails gliding along the walls, leaving glistening trails. After days of drought spent hiding behind a curtain of ivy, the sudden downpour had coaxed garden snails, Helix aspersa, out to graze on the algae coating the wet rocks. |
| White-lipped snails, Cepaea hortensis, crawled over nettles, protected by their slime from stings as they climbed the stems, intent on reaching the flowers and tender young leaves. | White-lipped snails, Cepaea hortensis, crawled over nettles, protected by their slime from stings as they climbed the stems, intent on reaching the flowers and tender young leaves. |
| Our walk had begun with the crackle of electricity and a heart-thumping thunderclap overhead. Now the countryside was settling back into the snail’s pace of a drowsy summer afternoon. | Our walk had begun with the crackle of electricity and a heart-thumping thunderclap overhead. Now the countryside was settling back into the snail’s pace of a drowsy summer afternoon. |
| Follow Country diary on Twitter: @gdncountrydiary | Follow Country diary on Twitter: @gdncountrydiary |
| Wildlife | Wildlife |
| Country diary | Country diary |
| Weather | Weather |
| Insects | Insects |
| Spiders | Spiders |
| Butterflies | Butterflies |
| Summer | Summer |
| features | features |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |