Looking Autumnal

The tulip tree leaves are turning yellow already.  It's a very Autumnal thing but it could also be lack of any decent showers of rain lately.  Leaves are also falling on the top lawn.  August is fast fading.

The garden is looking uncared for, although work has been done.

Especially on clearing the gravel path of weeds.

Heleniums and Echinaceas are doing well.

There is a small apple on the small apple tree.

Out and about on our walks there have been plenty of berries and fungi too.

There is now a slight chill in the morning air and jackets, admittedly lightweight ones, have been worn again first thing.

Can you bear another Wallaby?  I hope so.  This one is Nibbles.

He's at Rudyard Lake, near the café.  He was illustrated by Hannah Walton and Beki Kremer in collaboration with Leek and District foodbank.

The last two next time.

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.

 

 

 

Blogtober - Day Twenty Five

Last evening as soon as it went dark there were fireworks popping and fizzing around and about for the celebration of Diwali.  This morning we have sunshine and have been for a local walk.  I have washing drying outside flapping in the breeze.  Wheelie bins were emptied early so we could fetch them in before our walk.  Today was the last collection of garden waste until next  Spring so the bin will be washed out and put away.

 Below are some glorious Autumn Trees spotted on yesterday's walk.  Leaves crunching underfoot, fungi growing through the fallen leaves and a Walnut tree.

There was a partial eclipse of the sun today sometime between 10a.m. and noon.  We were out walking but didn't sense anything different. The winter sun seemed low as usual, I always struggle to see in winter sunlight. I remember a few years ago we saw a partial eclipse in Wales, the birds went quiet and the light faded slightly, we watched it with our backs to the sun, reflected through a hastily constructed pin hole camera made from cardboard.

Apparently it's world pasta day today.  I didn't know, did you?

Fungi Five

 So many different varieties of fungi on Wednesday morning's walk, I think there are definitely five different types below.

So many seasonal delights around at the moment. 

All I have to do now is try and identify some of them.  I think there are some kinds of honey fungus, antler fungus and parasol fungus there.

Perhaps the fairy knows.

A Morning Walk

It's been a busy few days with both dental and optician appointments for me, just check ups and flu jabs for both of us so it was nice to get some time out in the fresh air.

We took a long stroll around the lakes at Westport Lake Nature Reserve.  It was very quiet around the lakes and in the cafe at the visitor centre where we stopped halfway for coffee and a toasted teacake.  I expect next week will be a lot busier as it is half term for local schools and there are Halloween events planned for the children.

Our first spotting was a heron resting at the side of the smaller lake.

Above a black headed gull in its winter plumage.

Cygnets

Swan

There were lots of Cormorants, perhaps they had all convened for a meeting of the cormorant union.

It's quite a bonus to get a photo of a Grebe as they always seem to let me start up the camera and focus and then dive under the water as if to say 'Oh, no you 're not having a photo of me.'

The cormorant meeting was getting animated.

Another heron looked on with a vague interest in the proceedings.

Decisions made, conclusions reached perhaps?  The swan doesn't care and glides by gracefully.

Holly covered in berries.

Fungi - again not identified

A third heron on one of the small pools at the back of the main path where we always walk in the hopes of seeing a kingfisher or a water vole.

Yet another heron - I think that's four - fewer than cormorants - we counted at least six of those.

Lesser Black-Backed Gull and below more black headed gulls and a coot.

When we got home we were sitting in the conservatory with a mug of tea when a little cat we hadn't seen before entered the garden quite hesitantly through the fox run in the hedge at the top of the garden.

How to look both inquisitive and a bit scared at the same time.