Sunday 18 November 2012

A Final Rhapsody in Gold

These majestic Beech trees cling to the sides of the escarpments just a stones throw from our home.
They are so tall and straight that we wonder what sustains them growing on these steep Cotswold slopes made up of oolitic limestone.
Dotted around the slopes are homes, in the valley cows and sheep graze the meadows.
Village communities scattered below the escarpments.
Soon it will be time to close the gate on autumn.

74 comments:

  1. The colours on the leaves of these trees are so attractive. They obviously like the soil that they grow in!
    The photo of the village through the trees is so beautiful..
    I can see you live in a very scenic area Rosemary.

    Thank you for your commnens on green day. my reply button wont let me reply.. blogger hitch i think..
    wishing you a happy sunday
    val

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    1. Dear Val - it so frustrating when things suddenly go wrong with blogger. Have you tried switching the computer off and starting it up again. Sometimes that unscrambles whatever is happening.
      The Cotswold area is a very pleasing place to live. When we first moved here, it felt as if we were on holiday all of the time.

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  2. Dear Rosemary,
    A very nice post.
    Beech trees are among my favourites. My uncle lives on the edge of the remnant of Epping Forest and I loved walking through it. Its different to walking through an oak forest because often the ground is almost bare.
    I like the photograph you have taken of the village with the forest behind it. Some of the trees are a very pleasing mulberry colour. . .
    AGA had a look at your photographs and said that they are enchanting. I agree.
    Bye for now
    Kirk

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    1. Dear Kirk and AGA - thank you very much for your kind comments.
      The village is actually right across the valley from where I was standing on the escarpment, and I used the optical zoom so I cannot be sure what trees they were. Probably a mixture of deciduous trees that have taken on that hue because of the distance.

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  3. This is magical. What a beautiful place to live. Thank you once again for sharing it with us Rosemary.
    Bye,
    Marian

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    1. Dear Marian - I must say that I do appreciate where I live it is a delight to the eye. I am a mountain person, so these hills and valleys are the next best thing for me. Glad that you enjoyed seeing the autumn colours.

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  4. Wonderful, fantastic images, Rosemary! yes.. it's the final rapsody in gold, red and purple... it's the last waltz, the beautiful finale of a story, before Nature wears its white and silver gown, to celebrate the "feast" of Winter!

    I love Nature, mother of all things... so much inebriating beauty! We are so lucky to be here, in this beautiful world, to witness the greatest miracle of all!

    HAPPY WHITE WINTER!

    HUGS

    ANNA
    xx

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    1. Dear Anna - such a lovely comment - thank you.
      Glad that you enjoyed the images. This autumn keeps lingering on, which is great, mainly the weather has been very gentle with the trees this year, no wind to hasten the leaves to the ground.
      Hopefully not too much white yet Anna!!! Lovely to see it when it has first fallen, but makes travelling difficult, and I have just booked to go to Norway in the New Year!!!
      Ciao Anna♥

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  5. Such beautiful colours! Great photos.

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    1. Thank you Marie - the colours on the trees are wonderful still, just enjoying them for as long as it lasts.

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  6. Loving these photographs. The birch trees here in Scotland take on that purple hue when the leaves fall, and it lasts all winter on the hill across the bay from us. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful country.

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    1. Dear Freda - thank you, and pleased that you enjoyed seeing the photographs. We are lucky that there is so much variety in our countryside, and also in our architecture.
      We lived in Scotland for five years, and our eldest son was born there.
      The view you have sounds idyllic.

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  7. The Cotswolds are lovely all year round, Rosemary, but to my mind they are at their most glorious in autumn. Your splendid photos capture this perfectly.

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    1. Dear Perpetua - we enjoy living in the Cotswolds. Although we are completely surrounded by glorious contryside, there are many interesting cities such as Oxford, Bath, and Cheltenham on our doorstep. We do not feel too isolated, and H can get to London quickly for his consultancy work - it suits us.
      Glad that you enjoyed the photos which I took a couple of days ago.
      Are you in the south somewhere now?

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    2. We're back home in Wales, Rosemary, but my mother-in-law has lived in the Cotswolds for many years, so we know the area well st all seasons.

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    3. So pleased that you are safely home Perpetua.

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  8. Dear Rosemary - Everybody is commenting on the beautiful trees, but my eyes race to the gate! Is it yours? I love that Gothic design.

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    1. Dear Mark - why am I not surprised that you like the gate? It is lovely, and I like it too. It belongs to a near neighbour, and the grid you can see is to stop the cows and horses that roam freely on the common from getting into the gardens and munching everything up.

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  9. Beautiful Rosemary. Since it rained here our leaf color has improved.

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    1. Thanks Olive - hope CC arrived home safely from college.

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  10. Hello Rosemary, Your wonderful pictures of beech trees brought me pleasant memories of home. Northern Ohio was originally covered by a beech-maple forest, so beeches are very familiar there. Do you gather the beech-nuts on your walks? We used to collect the tiny triangular nuts from their burs, although just a few to eat outdoors.

    The maple part of the forest is also still in evidence, making Ohio a prime sugaring territory: http://roadtoparnassus.blogspot.tw/2012/03/maple-sugar-season-nostalgic-look.html

    --Road to Parnassus

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    1. Dear Jim - I enjoyed reading your link to the Maple Sugar Season - thank you. I can see from your photos that the trees are very similar to ones I have shown, very tall, straight and seem to stretch forever to the sky. The Beech and Maple must have a similar appearance. I do not collect the beech nuts, I never seem to find any with much of a kernel inside them. We did used to collect the outside shell when it has curled open and make them into a decoration for holding candles etc when I was a child.

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  11. Lovely colours and it will be such a shame to see them go but then we will have the structures of the trees to marvel at! Suzy x

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    1. Yes, that is right Suzy and more photo opportunities. I love the silhouettes of the bare trees against the winter sky. Each season has its blessings.

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  12. Hi Rosemary,
    I have to say that Beech trees are my absolutle favourite. From their tender (and edible0 new green leaves in the spring, through their strong and majestic grey bark throughout the year, to their spectacular autumn colour...and you photographs capture their beauty magnificently! Have a good week.

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    1. Dear Gary - thanks for your visit. I did not know that you could eat the new Beech leaves, but I am not surprised they do look so green and tender.
      To see Beech trees en masse, such as these is a delight, I agree.

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  13. The photos are amazing !
    All the colours of gold ,orange and red !
    I wonder how will be this place in the winter !
    You live in a lovely natural place !
    Olympia

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    1. Dear Olympia - I will try to remember and photograph them in the winter when they have lost their leaves, and then you can decide what you think.
      Glad you enjoyed the photographs, thank you♥

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  14. What a wonderful place! Such picturesque surroundings to your home!
    Autumn made a come back here, so we have been taking a long walk to "our" woods earlier today.
    The colours are not anymore as at your place Rosemary, but it was lovely anyway.

    Keep warm my friend : )

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    1. Dear Demie - I spoke to my eldest son in Norway today on Skype and he said it was a lovely sunny day - long may it continue. I have just booked flights to Norway at the beginning of January so hoping that the snow stays away.
      Take care Demie♥

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  15. How pretty the Cotswold hills look in autumn Rosemary. The trees look magnificent!

    Have a lovely new week.

    Madelief

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    1. Dear Madelief - it is surprising how long the golden leaves are lasting, but I am sure they will be falling very soon.
      Thanks for your visit.

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  16. Me encanta el Otoño!!!!

    He descubierto tu blog y me ha encantado su contenido, desde hoy lo sigo. Si lo deseas te invito a visitar mi blog By Nela y si es de tu agrado me gustaria tenerte como seguidora y asi seguir en contacto.
    Un saludo muy cariñoso.
    Manoli

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    1. Querido Nela - gracias por su visita, y me alegra que te haya gustado las fotos de la caída. Ahora estoy siguiendo.

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    2. Dear Rosemary,
      Thank you for a beautiful collection of photographs-- I so enjoyed seeing them! The lovely beech forest is so similar to ours here in Michigan, I was reminded of the paths I walk here at home. This really is a beautiful time of year, and your posts have allowed me the luxury of slowing down to notice the symphony going on around us--thank you!
      Warm regards,
      Erika

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    3. Dear Erika - there is something special about a forest of beech trees. There bright green leaves in the spring eventually turning to this wonderful gold in the autumn. They look wonderful too during the winter when they are stark and naked, hopefully I will be able to capture them with some snow on their branches. Thank you for your kind comment.

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  17. Hello Rosemary,
    very, very beautiful pictures!!!!
    A big hug

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    1. Hello Antonio - so pleased that you enjoyed seeing the photos - thank you very much, and take care.

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  18. This golden rhapsody is what we miss living in the city of London. Such incredible beauty in your part of the world! We did take a weekend trip to Lincoln and Stamford this weekend and caught a glimpse of what you're sharing, so we're thankful for that.

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    1. Dear Debi - I am pleased that you enjoyed seeing the autumn colours. I am sure you had a lovely trip to Lincoln and Stamford, two places I like very much. Hopefully you will have some photos from your visits. I expect that you visited Burghley House, and Lincoln Cathedral.

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  19. Dear Rosemary,
    These photos took my breath away! Such beauty! The village and beautiful gate, all add to the charm. I like your treatment of the first photo. Havn't had time to look at pic monkey yet. Maybe during the summer holidays.
    Thank you for your always welcome comments.

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    1. Dear Betty - thank you, and so happy that you enjoyed the photos. Yes, do have a look a picmonkey when you have time, I am sure that you will have some fun with it.

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  20. Hallo Rosemary!Your pictures are fantastic!Beautiful colors and wonderful plases! What a beautiful place to live!! Thank you for sharing it with us Rosemary!Wishing you a lovely week!
    Dimi..

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    1. Hello Dimi - that is so kind of you, the trees do have some wonderful colours this autumn. The countryside round here is interesting because we have lots of valleys and hills which create interesting vistas.

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  21. I've never heard of oolitic limestone Rosemary. Sounds wonderful.

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    1. Hello Paul - it is wonderful, it is what our Cotswold houses and the city of Bath is built out of.

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  22. So beautiful! I love seeing the township nestled in the valley, adds more meaning and context.

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    1. Dear Karen - all of the little communities snuggle into the valleys and on slopes in an attractive way. Thanks for your visit.

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    2. The countryside and villages must be such a delight to see as you travel along, never knowing what will appear around the next bend (to the new visitor).

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    3. After 16 years here we still keep discovering new lanes and little valleys when out walking.

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  23. Rosemary, you have so many beautiful photos today! You've captured the magic of fall's last hurrah. I have already said this once before but must say it again, you live in a little piece of paradise :)

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    1. Dear Rosemary - these must be the last hurrah as you say. The leaves have hung on so long due to the lack of harsh weather and no blustery wind.
      We are fortunate to live in such lovely surroundings.

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  24. Ahhhh....if trees could talk....your's would be a whole story. What beautiful pics today.

    Jo

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    1. Dear Jo - I like your comment - thank you.

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    1. Dear Paula - I agree, the colours have been beautiful and with our little digital cameras it is so easy to catch the seasons of the year.

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  26. Hello Rosemary,I nominated you a Liebster Blog award in my post today. You have a great blog! Pamela.

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    1. Hello Pamela - that if very kind and generous of you - thank you for your very kind comments.
      I did receive a Liebster Blog Award in the summer which is shown at the very end of my blog, that is probably why you have not seen it. I do not think that it can be received twice, but I do appreciate your nominating me - thank you.

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  27. Thankyou so much for sharing such a glorious series of autumnal photos with us.

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  28. Magical, Rosemary! The setting where you live is beautiful. I'm very fond of the smooth gray bark of the stately beech! As we celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S. this week, I want to thank you for your friendship this year ~
    Warmly,
    Loi

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    1. Dear Loi - it has been a real delight to get to know you and to have our interesting exchanges. Wishing you and your partner a very happy Thanksgiving this coming Thursday, and looking forward to our continued acquaintance.

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  29. This Autumn has been more colourful than usual in Yorkshire - and the wonderful berries and leaves are lingering longer too. Not long until Spring!

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    1. I think the end of the leaves is nye Nilly, but as you say not too long until Spring. The first snowdrops should be on their way in about 8 weeks time!!!

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  30. These are stunning, Rosemary. It has been a really rather beautiful Autumn...

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    1. Thank you for calling by Elizabeth - pleased that you enjoyed seeing the beech trees.

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  32. This is a beautifully breathtaking post, reminding me of New England - a golden rhapsody indeed. Thank you.

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    1. Sadly I took these leaves one week ago, and most of them have now fallen. However, the beauty of nature is that they will be back again next year.

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  33. Thank you for your lovely comments on my recent post Rosemary, I can tell you completely understand.
    :) Karen

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    1. I was so pleased everything turned out alright and you could relax again.

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  34. "The final rhapsody in gold” perfectly fits this fabulous world of yellow, orange leaves with golden tints. My favorite image is the 14th.

    Yoko

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    1. Dear Yoko - sadly, although I only took the photos a week ago, the leaves are nearly all gone. Soon it will be just the trees shilouette left.

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