Fog sets in and the leaves begin to fall slowly.
The forests of Lower Austria seem to be a paradise for Roman snails. The soil in the woods behind my garden is very rich in lime, and you can find an empty shell with every step. But there are also so many other beautiful places here in Lower Austria where there are interesting things to discover in the forests.
Sometimes I’m out on horseback and spot something from the saddle at the edge of the forest. Then, I’ll return later by bike and head into the bushes. In the undergrowth, a miniature world of its own takes place; unspeakable secrets lie hidden there, which I love to capture with my camera. The most important thing is to act with care and consideration, as we want to leave the forest exactly as we found it.
I prefer to go searching for the shells in early spring or at the beginning of autumn, when the ground is not yet covered by fallen leaves, but the forest’s green groundcover is already withering. That is when the snail shells are easiest to find. Besides, the ticks, which are certainly not among my friends, are then in a deep sleep...
