Summer Fades to Autumn

We are on our way to Addenbrookes, but this time not on the pretty A10. Because we had to drop off a prescription at the doctor’s office we will be taking the M11.

Although it is lunchtime, a layer of mist lays low across the meadows. It is that time of year when summer gives way to autumn and bright autumn berries mingle with pretty summer roses. The leaves on horse chestnut trees are brown, and the prickly green conker cases are clearly visible.

A surprisingly short show of Himalayan Balsam edges a pond. I have seen these plants standing tall before, but here they are densely packed, prettily pink and white, only 2-3 feet high.

My month away from home has wrought many changes. Today I saw a young hedgehog wandering the garden and hurried out to feed him. He ate speedily and then set off across the lawn to a birdbath, climbed up on the side and leaned over to have a long drink. He surprised me by climbing right into the birdbath and just standing there. He did drink while in the water, but the majority of the time he just stood. Eventually he climbed out and sat grooming himself for ages.

The fields are looking bare. The harvest has been gathered in and fields that have not been already ploughed have only stubble remaining. Great flocks of birds are either settled gleaning goodies or flying low over the fields perhaps searching for future meals.

An abundance of windfall apples litter the motorway verges and here and there a pheasant fallen prey to the speed of vehicles.

The flower heads on the ivy look beautiful. They are thick this year and form a dense covering that completely obscures the ivy leaves below.