Into November

 Five things for Friday.

1. In the garden. 

Leaves and plenty of them from the Tulip tree all over the top lawn.  They have been raked up a couple of times so far and there are a lot more to come down.  Today there is a slight breeze blowing them about.

 

Our foxy visitor seems to have something wrong with its eye,  I'm not sure if this is permanent or if it will clear.  We have another fox that visits and that one has a slight limp.  Lets hope that clears up too.  Life is precarious for our urbn foxes. 

2. Lakeside Walks

Cormorant

 

Photos taken on a recent walk around Westport Lake.  There are not so many visitors now the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has closed its visitor centre and cafe.  Such a shame, it was a lovely place for coffee overlooking the lake.  Many locals used it to meet friends and there was a good community spirit.  The city council are hoping to find someone to take over and are still maintaining the lakeside walks, car park and children's play area.

Muscovy duck and Runner duck

 

They are  always together and seem to be great pals.

3. Halloween

Lots of pumpkins and pumpkin carvings at Trentham gardens this week

 

4.  Autumn Colours

A quick walk at the Dorothy Clive gardens on Tuesday as it was quite damp and grey.  The wonderful colour in the trees and shrubs made up for the dismal day.

The tables in the cafe were decorated with fresh flowers and small squashes and gourds.

 

 

5. Recent reading

 

The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves.  The latest novel featuring DI Vera Stanhope.  One of my favourite series of books

 

The Comfort of Ghosts by Jaqueline Winspear,  the very last Maisie Dobbs novel. Another of my favourite series.

Bournville by Jonathan Coe, set in and around the Bournville area of Birmingham.  It's the story of Mary and takes her and her family from the second World War through notable times in our recent history right up to the Covid 19 epidemic.  

 

It's another grey day here but at least the slight drizzle we had yesterday has disappeared.  I think more leaf raking and gathering is in order for this afternoon.

A Definite Autumnal Feel

There is a definite feeling of Autumn in the air.  Chillier mornings, quickly darkening evenings, gorgeous skies, brisk winds tossing and turning fallen leaves, trees turning gold and bronze.

We walked in Trentham Gardens on Wednesday, as we set out around the lake there was damp in the air.  It took a while to clear and then the sun appeared for what seemed like the first time in ages.

The walk was mostly fungi spotting which is always a fun and interesting thing to do.

I'm not sure what they all are but I know that the red ones are Fly Agaric toadstools and the round ones are puff balls.  In the bottom photo the fungi looks a bit like poached eggs.

 

I recently received a most wonderful gift.  A dear friend often sends me links to the Guardian Country Diary, especially if the notes are about places we know or animals and birds we love.  They are always a joy to read.

 

A couple of days ago there was a knock at the door and the postwoman stood there with a parcel for me.  It was quite funny as the pharmacy delivery man was standing at the side of her with medication so two parcels together. One parcel far more appealing than the other.

 

Inside was a recently published book of the best of the Guardian's  Country Diary from 2018 to 2024.  It has an introduction by the wonderful Ian McMillan.  How to read  the book?  From beginning to end? Dip in? Or read with the seasons?  I decided on the latter and so my bookmark is in October.  Thank you, both of you, for you kindness.

 

The sun is out this morning highlighting the fact that windows need cleaning but at least I'll be able to put the towels outside to dry.

 

 

 

Into December

A few photos from this morning's walk at Trentham Gardens.  Cold in the air and crunchy underfoot. Visible breath from both walkers and dogs.  Definitely a warm hat, scarf and gloves day.  Also a hot chocolate day at the cafe halfway around the lake.  Fingers warmed around the cup before we moved on.

Stay warm and have a lovely weekend.

 

Pumpkins and Toadstools

Firstly welcome to some new followers it's good to see you here and apologies to all those of you whose blogs I can't comment on at the moment.  I have been reading and enjoying all your latest posts.

 Saturday morning dawned bright and dry after non stop rain the day before.  We popped out to the local garden centre to buy sunflower hearts for the bird feeders.  I miss Wilco's for bird food (and many other things too) but we have bought Red Barn sunflowers from the garden centre before.

We decided to drive back through Barlaston and stopped near the Wedgwood factory to look for Fly Agaric toadstools.  I remembered we'd seen them there last year.  First we decided to park and walk down to the factory and museum as part of the access road to the car park was under water.

Deliveries were getting through to the houses nearby.

Around the Museum and factory shops there were seasonal displays.

I've never seen so many pumpkins.  They are everywhere especially at all the tourist attractions ready for half term.

 

Above, Hedgwood's pumpkin patch guarded by two scarecrows

Back up at the village green there were loads of Fly Agaric toadstools.  Almost a ring of them under one of the trees. 

 

I've just learned from watching '8 out of 10 Bats' that the toadstools have a symbiotic relationship with the trees they grow under.  They wrap around the roots of the tree and supply them with nutrients from the soil and receive sugars produced by the tree in return.

Some of them had opened up to make flat rather than curved tops.  I expect most of them will quickly disintegrate.

Also under the trees were windfall walnuts.

We picked up a couple and opened one up to see what they were like inside.  They will join the other things on my nature table (see my previous post).

 

 Meanwhile in the garden both Hardy Begonias and Hardy Fuchsias  are doing well and the Hydrangeas have turned a lovely delicate colour.

Unfortunately the old plum tree at the top of the garden has had to come down as it was diseased and hollow inside and one push or heavy gust of wind would have broken it.  Insects will love the logs.

Knowing that the tree would have to go this year we planted two new plum trees last year to compensate.

All for now.