Autumn in Suburbia

This morning began beautifully. Many would not have thought it beautiful. It was dark still, even at 8.30 am; a breeze was blowing and rain was falling leaving distinct puddles on the ground. The garden was a picture of autumn. The rain was refreshing all the plants after several weeks of limited rain. The weather has been mild so far in September and October and autumn has been dragged out. Today was a landscape of glorious colour. The grass and evergreens were proudly showing off their rich green colours - no submission to a winter of barren branches for them. The dogwood and the Virginia creeper were rich copper brown, the leaves starting to fall; within a few days they will be bare, shut down until the spring brings out new shoots. The silver birch had been the first to shed its leaves - as it always is — and the small yellow brown leaves were scattered around like confetti over the whole garden. Some flowers were still hanging on providing flashes of red and yellow and white in the steamy dampness. For a short time the sun would break through and the colours glowed and shimmered in the breeze, drops of water glistening on leaves and branches.

Up the back of the house climbs the ivy inter-mingled with wisteria growing higher and higher, now reaching into the cladding to more firmly keep its hold on the structure. But soon it will be cut back its progress slowed until the spring. The wisteria holds onto its leaves still but soon it will give up the fight and the wiry leaves will fall.

A robin and a sparrow poked about among miniature leaf piles, rattling around for some rich morsels of food. As they poked and prodded, they flicked dead foliage into the air, scratching the ground intent on their tasks.

Clouds scudded across the sky sometimes grey and very threatening but only a steady light rain fell, trickling across leaves and stems, over rocks and bundles of stones, through cracks and crevices, rustling as it went. The birds flew away and the scene settled again as the quiet autumn slumbered on. Devoid of grandeur but poetic nevertheless. Yes, it really was beautiful.

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