Autumn joys

Throughout the spring and summer months, we have watched house martins rear their young in mud nests built near the rooftop on the outside walls of our house.  They dip and dive catching insects in the air with such energy and busy chatter.  They have all gathered together now and flown back to our friends in Africa.  I tell the children they have flown to Grandma's house to spend time with her and then will come back to stay with us again in the spring.  

The mornings and evenings are growing cooler, the autumn mists are here and there is lots of beauty all around us each day. Here's some of the joys of Autumn we've been admiring.

Elderberries.

Vines of black bryony twined amongst the hawthorn hedge.  It's scarlet berries hanging down in bright bunches.

The feathered seeds of the traveller's joy which often grows close to the wayfaring tree with it's bright red berries which gradually turn black.  Beautiful companions!

Hawthorn berries.

Scarlet rose-hips.

And pincushion galls which grow from a rosehip or briar.  These are beautiful and incredible! They are formed by the larva of a gall-fly who, as a grub, can make the rose-hip transform into these pincushions which offer both food and protection for its small dweller.  Isn't nature amazing!