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.

Blogtober - Day Thirty

It's the last Sunday in October and the clocks have gone back to Greenwich Mean Time and we have left British Summer Time behind.  A couple of the clocks were put back an hour last night also the heating. One or two more still need to be done.  Not that we've got that many.  

It was grey but calm this morning so we went out for a walk locally.  Home made soup when we got home, with homemade rolls.  Very warming and tasty.  Although not much warming was needed as it has been so mild over the last couple of days.

Leek and Potato

Yesterday the leaves were raked up from the lawn but of course, there are more there again today.

They are now in the compost bin.

 

I didn't take many photos on our walk today so below are a few I took on a walk earlier this week, just from home to the local park where the trees were looking autumnal.

 

All for now.

On All Hallows' Eve

 Not much to report really, it's a cold, wet and miserable day. Thank goodness I took the photo below yesterday when there was an hour or two of sunshine in the afternoon.

The leaves that had been clinging desperately to its branches are falling off the Tulip Tree quite quickly now, blowing here and there across the garden.  

 

Whirling upwards from the lawn occasionally in a wind driven flurry of activity.  Scattering across the flower beds and catching into the hedges.

They are laying in the water in the bird baths and covering the pond which is near to overflowing.

 

They will have to stay there until it is dry enough and calm enough to go outside and rake them up.

Tonight we will place a tea light in the pumpkin and settle down.  Last night there were fireworks cracking and fizzing long into the night causing dogs to bark around the Crescent, there will most likely be more this evening. I worry for cats and dogs and the foxes and badgers at this time of year.  Squirrels and hedgehogs too. 

I expect this will be the second year without 'trick or treat' knocks at the door not only because of the ongoing presence of the virus but also because of the stormy weather.  The wind is strong,  plant pots, wheelie bins and a water butt have blown across the garden and even more of those leaves have said farewell to the tree.

Take care everyone

All Sorts

The Tulip Tree at the top of the garden is looking quite spectacular at the moment as it has changed its colour from bright green to bright gold.

There are some interesting leaves in the garden - all sorts of attractive colours.

These two visitors pop by every evening to collect and eat any seeds the birds have dropped from the bird feeders - sorry it's not a great picture as I was trying to be quiet and they weren't very still.

Today we spent the morning wandering around Bridgemere and Dagfields looking for a birthday present. We were successful but as the recipient will probably read this post - I'll say no more.

I saw this lovely display in one of the units at Dagfields; we spent ages wandering around the antiques and bric-a-brac stalls and also the second hand bookshop which had some amazing books.

Since my last post all those charity bags have popped through our post box; as I only had a few items to give I had to chose just one of them. I always chose the ones belonging to a registered charity but even then when I put anything out I wonder if they actually get to the proper collector as I know that some people take them when they shouldn't. All in all it is probably better to take the bag to the relevant charity shop as then you know that at least your items reached their destination.

Last but not least a photo taken on our walk last week - I loved the fact that the cattle were almost the same colour as the autumnal trees in the background - yes that is a bull in the middle but there was a sturdy fence between us and it.

Autumn

An Autumn Haiku for National Poetry Day

Wind rustles through trees
Crisp leaves fall upon the ground
where green turns to gold