When Autumn……..meets Winter

It was COLD last night, the last flush of autumn left us with clear skies so the temperatures plummeted to minus 5c…..I know not as cold as some of you are ‘enjoying’ but cold enough for us. So we woke to our first really thick frost of the winter…….

Frost does act as magic wand, even the most insignificant grasses that have long since drooped become be-jewelled flowers of winter….

As the sun lifts above the horizon it creates yet another world, one basked in a golden glow…..

The trees have all  but lost their leaves so now stand like skeletons contrasting with their surrounds……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The needles on the Scots Pine have become real live Christmas decorations

whilst frost covered Holly adds a little more of their very own seasonal flavour

High on the tree tops the Frost will linger a little while longer

Out of the woods the sun soon starts to melt the frost with just a white carpet to remind us that winter is with us

But as the morning progresses the day gets back to an autumnal look once more

But it is also that time of year when the Grey Squirrel’s begin to think of new life.  The female initiates a game of chase with competing males.  Round and round the trees, over the canopies and up and down they go….that is till all but one male gives up the chase.  The female has by this simple process selected the fittest of the bunch with which to mate.

Definitely not just a game of hide and seek!

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Only 12 days to Christmas…..so I hope you have written your letter to Santa!

13th DECEMBER

© David Oakes