During a walk recently I realised that the seasons are changing already. The summer that we all look forward to with such forlorn hope here in England is inexorably passing into autumn, without ever delivering more than a few good hot days here and there. I’m told that the best part of the summer that this particular part of the East Midlands experienced this year was at the end of May, and into early June – just exactly the period when we were away on holiday in America. Ah well, we did get some pretty good hot weather over there, visiting as we did Arizona, Nevada, Utah and California!
But back to autumn, here in dear old Blighty. What was it that brought autumn to mind? Oh, the usual signs were there. Bright red hawthorn berries festooning the hedgerows, blackberries and elderberries ripening, mushrooms sprouting up in the fields, butterflies looking old and tired as they flutter in the grasses instead of flying around our heads …
I took a few pictures, as you can see. Each autumn, enormous field mushrooms pop up in the pastures where we walk the dogs. It’s probably quite safe to pick them to eat, because they don’t use weedkiller over there, but I’m simply not confident enough about identifying safe species, so I don’t risk it.
On the way back into the village we saw that the House Martins were gathering on the telegraph wires, and starting to talk amongst themselves about the long flight back to Africa. So nice to see them! The Swifts were conspicuous by their absence this summer – they used to spend all day soaring in untidy circles high above the church spire a few years ago. Noisy little things, but I loved them – you can listen to both birds on the pages I’ve linked to – they’re on the wing all day, never resting. In a strange way they remind me of flies buzzing around a light with their endless zigzag circling, but they’re a lot more beautiful and restful to watch.
And peeking over a garden wall, there was a carpet of little flowers nestled under a sheltering tree – hardy cyclamen, positively glowing among the leaf litter.  We have some in our garden, too, but I don’t think they’re out yet. I must go and look!
The little moth caterpillars that I’ve been feeding have dug themselves into the dirt at the bottom of their jar, and are pupating at last. I check on them daily, to make sure they aren’t ready to fly yet, but I think it will be a while … I wonder if, this late in the year, they’ll stay as chrysalises all winter?
You have touched every sense in your post: the sight and smell of the vegetation, the audio of birds chirping, and I want to reach out and touch everything; like a child! *laughing* I know there is one more. But it’s getting late.
) A beautifully written post, Jay. Thank you.
petra michelles last blog post..Where’s Nessy?
That was a lovely read. Sad about our summer (what summer) ending, but autumn has it’s beauties too :O)
I want photos of the caterpillars at every stage please.
Babs – beetles last blog post..Who is this man?
It’s hard to believe that it’s fall. The pictures are gorgeous, but the end of summer is always a little sad, you know?
Peace – D
RiverPoets last blog post..Less than Seven
autumn is my FAVORITE season EVER
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Taking The Plunge
a truly lovely goodbye to the seasons !! sandy
sandy ks last blog post.."I saw them necking down by the lake "
Some lovely photos, Jay. Lovely enough to almost make me like Autumn– which always somehow makes me feel a little sad. I guess I need to focus on the mushrooms, birds, and berries more.
Jenns last blog post..Cult of Personality: Some Alternate American Icons for President
Beautiful writing. Heightens the sensory perceptions magnificently. Too bad summer is coming to a close. Reminds me of something my mother used to say: We grow too soon old and too late smart.
Petra – Thank you for the lovely complimentary comment! The one you forgot was probably the taste of the mushrooms frying in butter.
Babs – Thanks, Babs! Mm… when I’m sure that ALL of the caterpillars are safely in their hardened chrysalises, I’ll tip the jar out and clean it and then I can take pics, OK? They’re all buried right now – I just get a tiny glimpse of a piece of one through the dirt!
River Poet – Agreed, it’s hard to believe, and it is a little sad. I know we can’t have summer all year, and I wouldn’t like it if we did, but well, it’s been a poor summer, and a cool wet autumn. *Sigh*
Meleah – Do you live somewhere hot? I thought I remembered you being up on the east coast somewhere ..? Oh, but you do have gorgeous autumn (fall) colour, don’t you?
Sandy – Thanks!
Jenn – Thanks, Jenn! There are good things about Autumn, for sure, but it always makes me sad too. Usually because we haven’t had enough sunshine in the summer.
Bob – Thank you for that really nice compliment! I love that saying .. so true!
Beutiful Post.:) We luckily have five seasons here Summer, Winter, Atum, Spring and Rainy. Luckily or unlickily we have extremes of all five so I never get to complain anything about seasons here.:)Btw I have noticed that you know a lot about birds as in the names… I am pathetic at that.
ScratchBagss last blog post..Memories!
The photos are stunning. I especially love those berries.
It is starting to feel like fall here too.
Thanks for your encouragement with my tech issues. We are hoping that they are finally resolved. The technicians found and fixed two (or possibly three) separate problems.
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..The U-Verse is Against Me
You’re fortunate, we don’t have ‘Autumn’ as in Europe. Only the introduced trees turn but most remain their spindly grey and thank to September winds, my lawn is strewn with gumleaves and branches. Lovely photographs and I remember hawthorn hedgerows, so pretty in Autumn. Spring is emerging slowly here so the leaves are finally coming back on our European trees, the jasmine is blooming and soon we’ll be wishing it was winter again!
Bainos last blog post..Cheer up!
hahaha, Jay! That’s the one! p.s. Adored Marty. Thank goodness for film which keeps his memory alive. I always loved him in “Young Frankenstein.” I think he was one of the first to break the pretty boy image in acting tho have always been floored by Charles Laughton.
petra michelles last blog post..Where’s Nessy?
My father-in-law just got here from the UK, he said there hasn’t been any summer in the UK. He has a hard time adjusting to the bright blue sky of Oregon initially, but now he’s loving it!
Ohhhh….
The Real Mother Hens last blog post..Perfect Moments
Scratch – Thank you! Five seasons? I’m happy with four! Although we do seem to have ‘Rainy’ as an optional extra with ALL of ours!
As to not knowing about birds – there are things you can do that I can’t. Like speak and write a second language fluently! Kudos to you for that!
Ruth – Thanks, Ruth!
I hope you get your tech issues sorted out soon, too! Good luck with that.
Baino – No autumn … that would be a shame. No winter – well, I was going to say ‘no loss’, but in fact I like having four seasons! I actually missed that in New Zealand.
Petra – Marty is a great loss. He was very talented, and seemed to be a really nice, humble guy, too.
Mother Hen – It’s true! No summer to speak of. It’s been okay, but no real sun or heat. And now it’s autumn!
I bet your father-in-law is loving Oregon!