Progress in the countryside is one thing we cannot stop, weather may at times slow the rate of change or even push it along at a pace faster than we would like…but seasonal change is inevitable.
Whilst we have been away my favourite wildflower of the hedgerow, Rosebay Willow Herb, has flowered and has now started to turn to seed. The Bees can still scavenge for nectar but soon it will be the birds that feast upon them…..
The greens within the woodland have also undergone a subtle change from their vibrant bright green to a more sombre dark matt green. Thankfully in places just a little sunshine penetrates the heavy canopy….
But with to-day temperatures the dappled shade of the lane was appreciated by both myself and Buster, even though he had decided a slow day was the option for him…..miles behind instead of his more usual trail blazing…..
But it was these Sweet Chestnut that were the more obvious indicator that summer is slowly passing and that autumn cannot be that far away. It does look as if we will get a bumper crop of Chestnuts this season….
Lets make the most of the summer that is still ahead….then we will have the glories of autumn to look forward to…the change when it comes may be gradual or sudden – only the weather gods have the answer to that conundrum. Dare I mention it is only 139 days to Christmas…best not dwell on that gem of information!
7th JULY
© David Oakes 2013
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
Wait! is was just winter…here it comes again, and dare I say, more gloves?
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I will have my eyes well and truly pealed for gloves! but lets have the rest of the summer first. How time does fly when you are having fun…
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Beautiful pictures.
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Hi David. The top one, Rosebay Willow Herb is called in my family: Hans’s heather. It goed back to 1980 when my sister and her husband went to Yorkshire to walk the Great Walks. I did a few too. That was in August and my bother in law, now in his eighties by the way, saw these flowers and wondered what they were called. Because they are purplish he called them heather. You may think that he did not know a lot about wild flowers. Still doesn’t but the name heather stuck… and because it was Hans who named it heather, we call it Hans’s Heather. Even though I knew there is another name for it. I have tried to find the Dutch name for it and by now forgot it clear again. Only Hans’s Heather stuck…
You are right to love them. They look wonderful along narrow roads and paths and becks. My 4 days in East Riding were a month ago and I think time flies, even when you don’t have fun. Next year, I will turn 65 in September. After that date I can go where I like, when I like. Now, still on the Dole, I cannot. I hope to come back to this country full of wonderful nature, scenery, people and traditions and old buildings and even older standing stones. It drags me back… 😉
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Hans Heather sounds just fine to me! an inspired name
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it goeS back, of course
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Thanks. I will tell him. Knowing him he will burst out in loud and harty laughter. He will enjoy your reply. 🙂
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