I'm so fickle. When snowdrops and daffodils burst into life, I declare that I love springtime. But I like to move with the times so, as the weather gets warmer and flowers and veg grow strongly, summer is my new favourite. Autumn will always win my heart over with vibrant displays of colour. Truth is, I just love everything about being outdoors in nature and its moments of beauty.
Walking round the 'hood in the aftermath of gale force winds and sporadic lashing rain, this is what I've been spotting this week:
Looking up ...
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Big London skies above Parliament Hill Fields |
And looking down:
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Who's spotting who? |
I only saw the squirrel in the long grass when his bushy tail appeared as he moved. He was oblivious to people passing by as he rummaged around almost undetected but popped up to face me when he heard the camera on my phone. It was one of those moments.
Still looking down, I saw autumn in puddles … which made me think of the beauty of fallen leaves.
Every autumn I'm completely obsessed with colours and patterns as leaves turn from green through all the yellows to red. There are some great leaf shapes falling and now is a good time to go leaf collecting with children - either for making leaf mould in sacks for the garden or to collect colours and shapes for creative work.
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(They call me) Mellow Yellow |
(I've started my collection already … )
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Ready for pressing between heavy books... |
I'm totally energised by blustery and bright weather and just have to be walking outdoors - and that's when colours really start popping out at me. Even after years of knowing about the beauty berry plant (
Callicarpa bodinieri), I'm still awestruck by the vivid purple of its autumn berries (bottom left).
These photos were taken over several days out but even after all this awesome loveliness, it was still thrilling to see the mind-blowing colours of the nasturtiums in the garden
and one of the poppies is about to flower for
the third time this year!
I have some time off work next week so I'm hoping to get to RHS Wisley. The autumn colour there should be amazing - I'm looking forward to seeing the spindle (
Euonymous europaeus) and liquidambar trees. I'd better take a bag for collecting some fallen leaves, I've a feeling there will be more days like these.