I love the drama and melancholy of autumn. The dazzling colours, falling leaves and nuts, the geese, berries and hips, mists, wind, endless rain and dramatic sunsets and SOUP, the heartier, the better.
It’s always a good time for reflection and planning ahead. I have several big projects in mind for the garden over the next six months which I’m enjoying mulling over.
The birds are quieter now, their energy is spent feeding in preparation for the winter. Crows are beginning to swarm and the rustling leaves betray the creatures scuttling beneath them.
My chilies have been wonderful this year and are still going strong, I also have many peppers still forming, it’ll be interesting seeing if they mature.
I took this photo on my mobile phone late last night as the furtive movement caught my eye. Shadow spiders is a good name methinks.
I’m loving the green, yellow and russet leaves on the beech trees. Leaves are now littering all the gardens and are forming droves against fences and walls.
Thanks goodness for long country walks during the endlessly changing restrictions. I certainly won’t miss phrases like lockdowns, tiers and circuit breakers, it seems they’ve been around forever, yet it’s only been a few months.
More Billy goats are roaming the pinewoods, along with some handsome black sheep. Their beards are MOST impressive!
These red jelly mushrooms are popping up everywhere, mainly on the elder trees. I haven’t seem them in these parts before.
Hubs took half of the buddleia down in the courtyard as it was blocking the light from the herb station. It took him fifteen minutes to cut down and me all day to chop up. You should have seen my blisters!
This acer has two main branches that have grown totally differently from each other. One branch is twice the size of the other and has totally different leaves. It must have been grafted with one of the branches reverting to the original plant. It’s certainly unusual.
The red dogwoods are now wonderful shades of purple and pink and late roses are popping up all over the garden. I suppose these will be the last of the season now.
I received an email from a rainbow group leader asking if it was possible for me to run a zoom session for the brownies, possible showing some video footage of our hedgehogs. I’m happy to do this but I have no idea how it would work with children all talking at once. One can but try though; maybe this is the way to resume wildlife talks in schools and other establishments during the pandemic.
And Finally…
Hubs and I were out walking in the dark with the dogs last night when Sam spotted a mouse in the middle of the road. It didn’t seem to be able to move so I picked it up and put it under the hedgerow. I had no idea what else to do with it. I expected it to bite me but it just looked at me curiously. It was warm and it’s legs began to wriggle so hopefully it will recover. I did pity the poor little thing.
It’s funny on our walks, Hubs is forever pointing at something on the ground for me to deal with, all I hear is him hollering…bee, butterfly, caterpillar or worm.
Until next time, stay safe guys.
I really enjoyed your post and how you captured the beauty of fall both poetically and in photos. It is a beautiful season. I love the fall in Philadelphia and we enjoy every minute as we pack up to go South to Florida for the winter to enjoy the warmer weather and longer daylight hours. Usually we leave around now, but this year we are waiting somewhat to see what’s happening with Covid..
Thank Judee and welcome to my blog. How lovely to be able to go to Florida each winter. Yes, it’s the same here, people aren’t travelling while the virus is out of control, here in Liverpool we have lots of restrictions re what we can and can’t do. xxx
Great post. You really love autumn. Spring here, but was cold the last few days. I love the fruit orchard blossoms in the Hawkes Bay in the north, and in the central South Island areas of central Otago and Canterbury. You still having that Covid problems. At least ours has been in control.
Thanks Peter. Fruit tree blossom is always such a treat each spring, just lovely. The UK and Europe are struggling with the second wave. I’m so pleased to hear all is well in your part of the world.xxx
A lovely autumn post Dina. I am looking forward to seeing your new garden projects. I have been doing the same these last weeks, it’s the only thing keeping me sane through endless days of plague. If only there was an end in sight.
Nice goats. I used to have a very handsome Anglo Nubian goat called Henry. I used to take him for walks on a lead and people were for ever asking me what breed of dog he was.
I laughed right out loud at your tale of walking your goat, having it mistaken for a dog. That’s funny as can be.
Hahaha, I’m with Linda, laughing about people thinking your goat was a dog! And….well of course you had a goat called Henry!!! Yes, we do need to see an end to this, hopefully a vaccine soon. It’s astonishing seeing how much has changed worldwide isn’t it? Onwards!xxx
I’ve never seen such handsome and unusual goats. They’re clearly a different breed from those I see around here; it’s quite the treat to see them.
I laughed at your tale of Hubs pointing out this and that. Once upon a time, I had to be trained to say what I was seeing. I was given to saying, “Look!” without any indication of what I’d seen or where it was. Especially if I’d just seen the deer that was preparing to leap in front of the car, a little more detail was needed.
I’ve not yet done anything on Zoom, but apparently it can be quite useful. I suspect the children will adapt to it better than I would. It’s not that I couldn’t, it’s just that it doesn’t much appeal. If I worked in an office, of course, or was in school, I would have had to adapt.
Thanks Linda. You sound similar to hubs, you shouting look had me laughing! I struggled with Zoom for the first session, now it’s become quite natural. It’s surprising what you get used to, and how fast. I hadn’t heard of Zoom pre covid.xxx
Lovely pictures. Lots of interesting natural sights to be seen when there is an opportunity to observe.
Commenting on my iPad this time, not my favourite method, but needs must. I cannot get to you with my desktop. Would you mind checking at your end that I am following your posts please. I don’t understand what is going on with the re-design of the WPsite.
Those goats have quite a distinguished appearance. Any idea what breed they are?
Take care. Xxxx
Oh, sorry to hear that you are having problems commenting, that sounds like a real pain. I can’t see anyone like Menhir 1 following me, I would have to know your email to see. The redesign has thrown everyone hasn’t it. I updated my site a while ago and didn’t have a clue how to use it. I don’t get emails from blogspot blogs even though I’m following them. It doesn’t make sense! I don’t know what type of goats they are, I’ll keep an eye out in case there is some info around the dunes re them. Thanks Menhir, I hope it all sorts itself out for you.xxx
What an incredible header image. I LOVE it.
The red jelly mushrooms look like apricots…..
I also love this time of the year – it really is a time to hibernate and re-evaluate life. I have trees both ends of my flat and the colours are gorgeous…
As for lock downs…we must simply keep doing whatever it is that we are doing and enjoy to the best of our ability. I believe that the key throughout lockdowns is to keep a routine.
I am sure your walk with the doggys is part of that for you.
A wonderful new place has opened a four minute walk from where I live called The HUB. http://www.theinspiredhub.co.uk. Because it is designated as educational…activities are continuing. I am meeting some wonderful people there and enjoying their Zen Zone plus all the other gardens they have including a beautiful herb garden where I can cut whatever I like. I gave a talk there on Wednesday and had my first workshop since lock down six weeks ago with two more scheduled for Nov 4 and Dec 2. Also went to a wonderful ‘climate change’ talk on Thursday. Everything very social distanced (it’s a big place) and of course masks.
This is proof that we never know what is around the corner – literally:). Had there been no virus and my normal travel schedule in full bloom I probably would not have learned about it or certainly have had time to get to know it….and so there are silver linings everywhere.
Sending love to you and the family and of course to Little UrchinXXXX
Autumn and winter really are hibernation seasons for sure. Yes, we just have to keep sticking to the riles and living one day at a time, routine is, as you say helpful. Oh my, The Hub sounds incredible! My kind of place for sure. Love that you can pick fresh herbs too. Yes, we never know what’s around the corner, that really is a silver lining. Love and hugs to you.xxx
Love the first photo of all the pink footed geese! How I miss them! We have Brent geese here on the river Exe but they don’t fly over the house like they used to in Ainsdale. The goats are amazing doing their bit for conservation in the pine woods, how do they take to dog walkers?
Thanks for another really interesting post, thinking of you in your lockdown, stay safe!
I can see how you miss the geese, they are a spectacle for sure when flying overhead in their thousands. The animals roaming the woods seem happy around people, walkers are asked to keep their dogs on leads which everyone is sticking too. Thanks Pauline, you stay safe too.xxx
With the kids … the wonderful thing with zoom is, just mute them!! then tell them to put their hands up if they want to say something. Works a treat. We do services on zoom – I am always joking that it’s great becoz I can mute Hub!
How strange and lovely about your acer. I love acers and am feeling very jealous. I now need a two-type acer myself! Keep well, lovely Dina xx
Ahha! Just mute them! You are a genius!!! Hahaha, love you can mute hubs, I wish I could do that at times! It is odd about the acer isn’t it, two trees for the price of one! Thanks Gill.xxx
Lovely post Dina, the autumn colours in your photos are lovely. I love autumn too….and I don’t mind about one month of winter, and then I’m over it!
Great idea to show the brownies the hedgehogs on zoom, but you might need a moderator to stop them all talking at once.
Are you in Lockdown again? If you are I hope you can get out for a walks, that is the part that keeps me sane during Lockdown!
Thanks Gerrie. I’m hoping the Rainbow leader will manage the kids. We’re not in lockdown yet, just the highest tier which means we can still go out for walks.xxx
I love your walks. There’s a radio comedy ‘Cabin Pressure’ where they play yellow car on a journey (when you see a yellow car you say out loud yellow car, infectiously silly) I see you and hubs walking along have conversations interspersed with him declaring ‘mouse’, ‘bee’…. lol
Hahaha, I love the sound of yellow car! Yes, that’s exactly how our walks go! Thanks Anne Marie.xxx
Oh, Dina, I just love the photo of the flocks stenciling the sky…beautiful! And your beautiful words describing autumn: Yes and yes, all those and more. I do love it deeply.
All the garden photos are beautiful, but to still have so many roses would be stunning, I think.
I’m so glad you can enjoy your walks with your dear one directing your rescues and miracles. 🙂 What fun!
Wishing you coziness, spiciness, and gentle peace. Thank you for this beautiful, beautiful post! xoxoxo
Thanks Kitty, the geese are beautiful aren’t they. I think the rain will see off the roses soon, it’s never stopped for weeks. I’m glad we have walks, we don’t do much else! Such a strange year, I think we’ll all remember 2020! Love and hugs to you all.xxx
Your sky image is amazing! Lots of drama indeed. I did smile at the thought of you planning your big projects with glee. Will have to import you to plan out my big yard projects. I’m not coming up with glee over here 🙁
Your acer is amazing indeed! And could you teach me how to prune buddleia? Well, aside from hacking big swaths of overgrown stuff. Mine aren’t quite small yet but looking like they need knowledgeable attention. I’m sure I’m doing it wrong.
The purple on those dogwoods are just amazing. Thank you for sharing all your fall beauties. Esp from your walks!
The geese are very dramatic, the sound adds to the drama! I think it’s easy planning the projects, delivering them is the trisksy part. I have to admit to simply hacking the buddleia back. It grows so quickly here no matter how hard you prune it it bounces straight back. Thanks Anne.xxx
I just love the Autumn.
I was out earlier today, it was glorious. Storm Barbara had passed us by, the sky was blue, the sun was shining and the Autumnal colours were wonderful … I really should have taken some photographs!
So many of the schools and groups are using ‘zoom’ or ‘teams’ or similar, I think it could work well for you to give a talk to the brownies 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your week, and have a good weekend.
All the best Jan
What a shame you didn’t take any pictures. I haven’t seen any sunshine in ages, just wind and rain around here. Yes, I’d forgotten that the kids have been using zoom, that will make life easier. Thanks Jan, you too.xxx
I’ve enjoyed the description of nature in all its forms at this time of the year in your area. Even out walking you are rescuing wildlife. They must be drawn to you both. I haven’t seen many fungi as yet on my walks, but maybe just not in the right environment for them. I’m making the most of the dry periods to go walking and de-stressing especially as the restrictions go on and on and are getting even tighter. I guess that’s the same with Mr P and his garden projects which are to do with construction – they also keep him occupied. It must be in the genes as the Romans were good at building things. Take care. There’s plenty yet to do outside with garden maintenance before the Winter sets in.
Thanks Linda. Hubs is great at spotting things on the ground. It’s good to get out isn’t it, what would we do without our walks, I’m hoping the weather stays dry and mild, at least during the day. Mr P is certainly handy! xxx
I’m guessing the children will just watch you on zoom and the teacher will control the questioning so it should work. Ruby has decided she likes chasing leaves that blow in the wind.
Yes, I’m hoping the teacher takes control. Ahhh, sweet little Ruby.xxx
Lovely post and pictures. It sounds like you’re planning on being busy during the coming months. Good luck with the Zoom sessions, and have fun.
Thanks, and you too. xx
Thanks Flighty. I’m almost looking forward to the zoom session with the kids.xxx
I have to say that I’m always in two minds about autumn, it’s the having to say goodbye to summer that I really don’t like but we’ve had some beautiful autumn days so far this year, and I think we’ll all be glad to see the back of this year, though who knows what the new year will bring. I think children have learned a lot about how to meet with teachers, friends, groups through Zoom this year so they may just surprise you.
Yes, it’s shame seeing the end of summer. I love autumn but not so much the long dark nights. Yes, I’d forgotten that kids have been using zoom, even the five year olds. Most kids are probably better than I am re using technology. Thanks Jo.xxx
Such a lovely post, thank you for your lovely words about autumn. It is a wonderful time of year isn’t it, my favourite of all the seasons.
Your chillis look fantastic, do you grow them outside? I have tried to grow them but can never get them to fruit. Maybe I should try the again.
I too was smiling at the thought of your husband hollering at you about something that needs dealing with!
Thanks Sustainable mum. Autumn has to be the most atmospheric season for sure. I always grow chillies and peppers in the greenhouse, they wouldn’t cope outdoors here.xxx
What a lovely poetic post. Poor wee beastie, I hope it recovers. You did make me laugh at the thought of Hubs directing proceedings whilst you do all the hands on stuff! Your chillies look fantastic. I still have a few left in the freezer from last year’s crop but my plant died this year and my seeds failed to germinate. Maybe I’ll just have to buy a new one. Enjoy your walks. xx
Thanks Veggie Mummy. Hubs can be a nightmare, I’m forever picking up and sorting things he spots. He doesn’t get his hands dirty! Oh, what a shame about your chillies this year, that’s gardening for you. My tomatoes weren’t great this year.