Autumn

 Autumn has taken me by surprise this year.

In mid September we went to Italy for a wedding and a few days holiday. On returning we all tested positive for covid and have stayed at home. I'm now recovered and am out walking again and in those couple of weeks since my last walk, summer has moved into autumn.

The bracken has turned brown and gold and funghi are appearing in the woods.

 

We are off to spend a few days in Scotland, I'm looking forward to noticing the seasonal changes as we travel north.

 

 

Today

 

Today I felt like coming here, to this long neglected space and posting a few photos taken this morning. I'm not sure why, I don't know whether this will be a regular occurence but here I am.

 

All is well here. Things have been quiet over the last couple of years but I am ready to emerge from the self-imposed coccoon I've happily tucked myself away in.

 So to anyone still around to read this, Hello, I hope you are well .

 

 

Edinburgh in November

A few photographs from my visit to Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago. We were blessed with lovely weather, cold frosty mornings and bright blue sky days.

We are lucky to be able to visit the city several times a year and like to revisit favourite places as well as find something new. This time we went to Holyrood Palace - no pictures as photography was not allowed. The photograph above is Holyrood Park with Arthur's Seat on the skyline.

The skyline of Edinburgh is very distinctive and you often get glimpses of parts of it as you walk around the city. Above is a view of Carlton Hill from the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The Botanic Gardens are one of my favourite places to wander and look stunning at any time of the year. I am always drawn to the rock garden with its little paths and amazing array of plants,

still beautiful in November.

There were a few roses flowering in the Queen Mother's garden.

Although Edinburgh is a busy bustling capital city, quiet and calm spaces exist within it. The Water of Leith runs through the city providing another habitat for wildlife.

And of course right in the middle of the city, in the shadow of the castle, Princes Street Gardens are the perfect place to relax in the late autumn sunshine.

Early Autumn

There is a definite autumnal feeling in the air. The mornings are cooler, cyclamen have appeared, and the garden has a softer faded feel as we move through early October.

In the countryside the berries are bright until the cold weather arrives and the birds devour them.

This time of year encourages slowing down and reflection, two things that I seem to have had little time for lately.

Only my second post this year. I don't write but somehow am loathed to admit the fact and give up on the blog. I miss the early days of blogging when even the smallest blog like this one could form its own little community,  people in many different places around the world, quietly documenting their lives and photographing their surroundings. All on Instagram now I suppose and blogs are old-fashioned unless there is something to be promoted or sold.

Blogging is more time consuming and time seems to be in short supply these days, ridiculous since I no longer work.

The rhythm of my days has changed now that neither my husband or I are working. I no longer have those quiet solitary days at home. We are busy, the television is switched on, there are no quiet pauses in my day to take gentle walks with my camera, to sit, and to think.

Life is good but I miss that quiet. Today I have a rare day to myself and it feels good. I hope to make more time for days like these.

I'd like to find time to blog again, not regularly as I used to, but from time to time, simply documenting my days. We'll see. If there is anyone reading - do say "hello".

October

October has been wonderful this year, mild temperatures and clear blue skies. I go for a walk almost everyday. There is so much to see at this time of year and although I don't travel very far there is so much to photograph.

quietly autumnal

In contrast to the bright colours of the Acers at Westonbirt in my last post, the late autumn colours here are quieter and more muted.

We have had wind and rain but in-between there have been lovely calm days

to appreciate the slowness of November.

The last yellow leaves

the golden browns of the dying bracken

and the contrast between fruits and foliage in the hedges.

Some trees like this English maple are full of leaf

whilst leaves have dropped from others producing a temporary colourful carpet.

And most magical, in a clearing, this deer quietly watching me through the bare twigs of the bushes. All very quiet and peaceful.

- wishing for more quiet and more peace in our world.

Maples and Acers at Westonbirt Arboretum

My husband is taking a few days holiday this week so we planned a couple of day trips. One was to Westonbirt Arboretum. I visited as a girl and wanted to see the autumn colours. The weather during the journey down was quite foggy which muted the colours in the landscape and I wondered if it might be disappointing.

I needn't have worried, as we walked further into the woods it became more and more colourful. The arboretum is divided into two parts, the Old Arboretum and the newer part Silk Wood. At the entrance we picked up a map showing the "autumn trail" in each section.

We started in Silk Wood. The following pictures were taken in Maple Loop and are Japanese maples.

The next set of photographs were taken in the Acer Glade. This is in the Old Arboretum and is the part I remember visiting many years ago. The trees here are much larger and even on a dull day the wonderful reds, oranges and yellows were fantastic. Perhaps because it was a damp drizzly sort of day there weren't many people about and I was able to wander amongst the trees taking many photographs.

Enjoy!