Colours of Autumn

Back from my brief(-ish) absence - yay - to celebrate some of the glorious autumnal colours, in spite of the fact that I'm a fan of an extended summer!  The first pic shows the beautiful amelanchier, displaying its warm seasonal hues, at the back of my garden.

I relished a glorious ten-mile - mostly blue-skied - walk to Richmond (and back), today, delighting-in the entrancing, almost-impressionistic, early sunset - from the river bank.

As I set-out - close-to-home - I couldn't resist capturing (photographically) this mesmerisingly lovely tree, in all her seasonal glory.

What are your autumnal highlights?

Eye-'Candy'

Yes, you've spotted the theme of the moment... another gorgeous tree from Wisley's autumnal display, infused with the season's colours. Look closely at the fruits and flowers and you'd be forgiven for thinking them fake; they resemble mini bonbons, or man-made decorations, more than real berries. Captivating and alluring; to be admired but not for eating purposes...

Tree of Inspiration

Autumn sunshine dappled through this beautiful tree, in Wisley's glorious gardens, on a happy Sunday afternoon...

A Taste of Autumn

It was sunny and windy, by turn, earlier today when I went to check-out Wisley's Autumnal delights. The tasting marquee was the packed focus of this seasonal festival and although verging on chronically overcrowded, it was well worth the effort.

The highlight of the tent's offerings - for me - was the wonderful table laden with plates of sliced apple varieties, for sampling and comparison. An amazing array, although sadly most will never have any presence on our supermarket shelves and truly put mainstream offerings to shame. The range of tastes, colours and flavours was impressive and deeply delicious. It was wonderful to see so many children relishing the crunchy samples.

In the gardens, outside the tent, autumn was on display in all her glorious colours. Sunshine dappled leaves, in all their rich, warm hues, made a beautifully memorable impression...

Autumn smells...

...wonderful! Who can fail to have enjoyed the glorious sunny, blissfully temperate weather we've been treated to in London over the past week (in spite of all the doom and gloom abundant in every news bulletin)...

I know I'm predictable (where the 'w'(eather) word is concerned) but the fabulous sunshine and warmth really do elevate my mood and energy levels - I can't pretend otherwise! So, I've been spending a lot of time out-and-about, revelling-in the beauty of nature, in the park and by the river.

As soon as I arrived through the gates of Richmond Park, mid-afternoon last week, the wonderful autumnal aromas enveloped me, enticing my senses. Deliciously warm, richly inviting scents palpably announced the change in seasons and made me want to inhale deeply, and powerfully, to better take-in and fully embrace the setting.

Interspersing walking with running, I relished the warm-hued, broad, beautiful perspective and alluring natural light caressing the verdant hills and bronze, golds, russets and sparkling browns of the leaves and trees. A truly autumnal treasure trove, a joy to behold and to reflect upon...