Leaves

 

Young children get very excited about leaves falling from trees. We used to collect them; look at the different shapes and colours; and paint them to make leaf prints. Sadly for most  adults they just become a nuisance. They ruin the grass if left too long on the lawn or cause delays on public transport! I actually turned my bike round to look at these gorgeous leaves in the sunshine and wish now that I had collected some. 

It wasn't quite so sunny when I set out this morning. The following photos from my walk were at risk of being very dull and blurred due to the low light in the woods. Squelching by the stream is one of my favourite things to do on a dull day. Most of the trees still have a full coverage of green leaves as it is still  very early autumn (as I keep reminding myself.) Yet still it would be easy to know which tree you are under without looking up.

 

Not so autumnal but I loved the way these leaves were backing up behind some sticks in the stream. Definitely near an alder: lots of green leaves, a birch (some of the yellow) and a beech (the bronze.)

The bronze under beech is very special, although most of  these are curled up and I need to do a beechwood walk soon to get a better photo!

The colours under this tree were less spectacular but I loved the tiny shoot from the acorn. It probably won't come to anything as it is in the shade of the parent tree but the squirrels have been busy spreading the acorns around the woods so I am sure that some will grow.

As we walked home, we were accompanied by the drone of a leaf blower. Rather a pointless waste of energy in the countryside where they will blow back again tomorrow.  If they are a problem here, it is much better to rake  them up and make leaf mulch if you have space to store them.  Or maybe it is time for adults to start collecting and painting in the longer dark evenins?