Blackberry eating sometimes seems the highlight of the hedgerow year.
By the time they wither and become tasteless, we have to agree with nature that winter is on its way.
But, really, this is just the beginning. Seeds are almost ready for a new start. Growth doesn't start with spring, not really - autumn is where it begins.
Humans plant most of their seeds in the spring, when the weather is beginning to warm. Wild Fennel is dropping its sowing its seeds now.
Roses are passed but their hips make great displays
Haws which began as May Blossom earlier in the year are beginning to shrivel and age
And the skins of sloes are wrinkling. (Sloes are Blackthorn fruits.)
I don't know what this plant is called.
Viper's Bugloss flowers are over and the plant is now transformed into a stick of silver prickles. Tiny seeds are now falling from the cups which have held them while they ripened.
The hedges are fluffy with Old Man's Beard (the seed protections for Traveller's Joy - wild clematis). This year, they are smaller than usual - but just as lovely.
Seed upon seed . . . did you notice?
Grass? Wild Barley? Can't see that it has come from anywhere immediately above. Bird or wind delivered.
And back to ground level.
'Fool, if you think it's over . . . it's just begun' A song sung by Elkie Brooks. She wan't singing about Autumn but . . just look at those seeds fall.
All photos for this post were taken on the afternoon of October 25th 2011.
