To Autumn

Photos copyright: Maggie May

The clocks went back one hour last night so we are really entering winter time but as far as I am concerned it is Autumn. I hate the clocks going back one hour and would sooner leave things as they were, having really dark mornings but lighter evenings.

These photos are a selection from a recent walk. I am sometimes really pleased that my camera lives in my bag, so that I can snap the unexpected whenever I want.

I walked through an archway that divided some allotments and I think this arch had crab apples trained over it.

The girls were walking on ahead through the archway.

I encountered some lovely berries and brightly coloured plants.

I am reminded of John Keats poem, To Autumn.

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage trees

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For summer has o'er-brimmed their clammy cells.

My Garden In Autumn

Photos copyright: Maggie May

This is my little garden in Autumn. Nothing much in flower except Sedum Spectabilis, Autumn Joy. And what a joy it is too, cheering up an otherwise drab scene. This has been a treasure and I'm so glad that I got it. The last of the butterflies and bees have come to visit. The Japanese Anemonies are nearly over. Nothing much else will flower now but but I have a few confused plants wondering what happened to the sudden lengthened summer that we had earlier. A carnation is still producing flowers and also lavender and ceanothus.

Now the weather is still sunny but quite cold, going from one extreme to another.

I think my little Japanese maple has expired but I will give it the benefit of the doubt until next Spring. It might have succumbed to all the building work earlier on or it might not have liked the unexpected month of sunshine that we have just had, when all it really wanted to do was to drop it's leaves and sleep.

After the Shower

Photos are copyright of Maggie May.

There is always plenty of rain in England and it is a common sight to see the plants in my garden covered in rain drops.

It is quite refreshing though and saves me having to water the pot plants too often.

The Agapanthus has now died back and the ornamental grass is looking rather tatty before it too, disappears.

I can't believe that it is Autumn already. Seems like we haven't had much of a summer at all.

Watery Wednesday is hosted by 2sweetnsaxy. For lovely photos, pop over for a visit.