Stunning Skies

Driving from Enfield towards Edmonton in London today, we travelled under a dramatic cloudscape, with the sun concealed but rays radiating from the gaps. These photos are taken from a moving car so do not catch the true beauty or drama of what my eyes saw, but, oh my, it was beautiful.

Later, this was the upward scenery in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, London, behind the William Morris Gallery: prettier, more delicate, another type of beauty.

The trees are really hanging onto their leaves this autumn!

Happy Egg Producer

I got off my sofa today to go and see my doctor, who pronounced my throat typical of one with a viral infection so to keep taking the analgesics, warm drinks and rest. Before returning home, I made a visit to the farm where I buy free-range eggs fresh from the hens, who like to see who their customers are. Now I'm back to the sofa, my Christmas knitting, and armchair travelling.

British Museum

Last Sunday my Mum and I made a visit to the fascinating British Museum.

We were there to see the fascinating Garden and Cosmos exhibition on its last day - art from the Court of Jodhpur, a collection of exquisitely detailed and coloured paintings which deserved much attention and close examination, so we made a slow progress.

Afterwards, we sat in the covered Courtyard - a first time for both of us - and enjoyed refreshment and people-watching while we decided what to do next.

Drinks consumed, we concluded that seeing anything else would be too much, so made our way back through a sunny London late afternoon, with part of our imaginations still in Indian palaces and gardens...

Gorgeousness in the Garden

It may be autumn, but the wonderfully sunny and mild autumn we are having is allowing an extra period of colour and loveliness in the garden. The kaffir lilies are always welcome at this time of year, but how good they look bathed in sunlight, which reveals a pearlescent quality to their petals I'd not noticed before.

Astrantia is another favourite of mine, and here is one plant, blossoming its little heart out.

In contrast, the dahlia shouts out its fiery colours and flame-like petals, a patch of intense heat in the flower-bed.

The delphinium has spent the summer sheltered in deep shade under the walnut tree and, now that the leaves are falling, has decided that its time to shine has come. I think it might need to be moved next year: it is very leggy and the lovely delphinium blue is rather unseasonal right now.

Close by, this rose is having another flush of flowers, another flame red pool of warmth.


Love in a Mist is triumphing in the high jump over the rest of the "field" - of weeds.

Of course, it is harvest time. The roses are forming lovely red hips.

Apples on the tree - we harvested them today. Last winter they provided a winter feast for a family of mice in the garage, so we won't be storing them in there again.

The strawberry tree is flowering again as its fruit ripens, still yellow rather than strawberry red.

Another glorious swansong of pink, rosy lushness gladdens my heart.