The Vibrant Colours of Autumn

 

Not long ago, the leaves started to change from green to 

hues of gold and orange.

Some leaves turn pink and then red

Just walking in my neighbourhood, I can enjoy the daily changes.

Bright and shiny in the sunlight

Beautifully shaped.

Falling leaves get caught in branches and enjoy the sunshine

before falling down to the ground.

I love to walk down to the big Mon Repos Park in Lausanne

and it only takes between fifteen to twenty minutes from my home.

It's my way of getting into nature despite my town environment.

I love the colourful leaves of the oak and to see the ripening acorns.

The pond is always beautiful to contemplate and there are still some lily-pads.

The blue sky and trees are reflected in the water.

The big American Oak leaves have already taken on a burnished look.

Acer leaves in vibrant red brighten up darker corners.

Another fallen leaf, resting in an evergreen tree, backlit by the late afternoon sunshine.

The Chrysanthemums are filling out the flower beds.

I particularly liked this colour which blended so well with the colour of the fallen leaves.

The leaves from my strawberry plants have changed colour.

I have had a really good crop of fruit this year!

The Beech leaves are among my favourites against the soft dappled background.

I have taken so many photos this autumn

 that it would make this blog entry far too long to add them all here, 

so I'll make several entries during this month of November to include the most beautiful ones.

We are now in our second wave of Covid-19,

we are told to be very careful and follow strict hygiene rules.

Restaurants and cafés have closed,

but shops have remained open.

It's best to avoid crowds and enclosed spaces and to wear a medical mask.

One day, we shall be free of all these strict rules,

but in the meantime, we find joy in the wonders of nature.

I hope that you are well.

Take care!

The Clocks Went Back Today

The days are getting shorter and the clocks went back 

which is great for those who like to sleep in

but for the early birds, like me, it just means I'm up even earlier!

This beautifully illuminated leaf in the late afternoon sun in the park

told me that the big change was coming!

The autumn colours came later than usual because of the very warm

months of September and the first week of October.

On a local walk, I saw a fallen leaf caught in Catalpa pods

The sweet chestnuts are almost ripe and will soon be gathered

and roasted chestnut stands will appear around the town.

Some leaves turn a beautiful shade of pink

and others, like the Ginkgo biloba, also known as Maidenhair Tree

turns a luminous yellow.

I love it when the leaves go from green to yellow to soft orange on the same bush

The Farmer's Markets show off their most beautiful pumpkins

The Hydrangea change colour as the season advances

and even the leaves take on new interesting colours and patterns

Down in the park, the pond reflects the autumn tones

with harmonious ripples

Hanging baskets and urns and window-sills are decorated with

colourful and cheerful chrysanthemums.

It's a beautiful time of the year in this part of the world

and before we know it, there will be snowflakes swirling in the air!

November is quite renowned for a snowfall or two!

I hope that autumn is beautiful, wherever you are.

Aqua Reflections

The yellow rope

Soft tones of turquoise

Floating islands and lakes

A hint of pink

 more like a painting

 than water.

Red and orange seep into blue

creating intensity

Blue ink doodles

Electrifying

Flying flag reflections

This feels like summer

and this is spring

My favourite pond

Reflecting trees and blue sky

A sigh, contentment.

A simple muted puddle reflection can transform my mood

and heighten all my senses.

Gazing at water and the changing reflections

is one of life's deep-felt pleasures

I love that emotions and water are so intricately connected with one another.

Do you feel the connection too?

Photo-Heart Connection: April

I seem to have a deep connection to the sky and to water

two elements that attract my attention so often.

The sky is the air that I breathe 

and with each deep breath,

my thoughts disappear and are carried away

like clouds floating away out of my line of vision

and I am left

in a blissful state of

beingness.

So totally in the moment

that time stands still.

Nothing else exists

but that moment.

Water has many moods according to the wind and the seasons.

The calm water in this picture reminds me to go with the flow of life

to be inspired by the stillness

to observe the reflections

and to let go of the mind.

As I observed this scene, my attention was drawn to a small island

on the far side of this large pond

where some light green reeds were growing 

and I couldn't not include what I saw here

I will show you

and I feel you may agree!

Mother duck was taking her babies for a swim and was heading

for an island in the water to take them to safety.

I zoomed in on the little family

and here they all are swimming in the glorious green reflection of the reeds.

 A heart-connection indeed for the very end of this month of April.