Monday 2 December 2013

A Golden December

The leaves on the Silver Birch resemble little gold coins sparkling in the winter sunlight.
Those familiar with this blog know how much I love this beechwood that sits on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment just below our home.
Owing to travelling during October and November, I thought that this year I had missed the autumn colours. However, unbelievably, the trees are still partially clad in their golden gowns even though we are now in December. These photos which I took on Saturday, speak for themselves.
Looking up into the trees canopy
Along the shadowed pathway criss-crossed with sunbeams, the crispy leaves rustled pleasingly under foot. My inner child felt a strong urge to hurl leaves skywards, but alas did not.

68 comments:

  1. Wonderful place to walk, wonderful. I share you blog in facebook.

    Marina

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    1. It is very pleasing walking in dappled sunlight through an ancient beechwood.

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  2. You live in a beautiful part of the world. I do miss English Beech woods.

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    1. I think that Beech woods are my favourite, there is something about their tall slender grey trunks and wonderful canopy of leaves that is so pleasing to the eye.

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  3. such beautiful colours+pictures dear Rosemary! I can almost smell the trees when reading your post...happy new week from me!

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    1. Thank you Jana - hope that you enjoy the coming week too.

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  4. Oh what glorious, golden beech trees, they absolutely glow in the sunshine. What a wonderful place to walk! And I'm guessing you can rustle about in all those leaves and not have to worry about snakes or other nasties as we do over here in the antipodes .. I'm so glad you did not miss this Autumn treat, Rosemary.

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    1. Dear Patrica - I had the woods to myself on Saturday, it was very peaceful and quiet. May be we would come across a squirrel, a hedgehog, or a robin, but nothing stirred whilst I was there.

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  5. Hello Rosemary, I love walking in the autumn woods. The fallen (or half-fallen) leaves afford great visibility and new vistas through the trees. The leaves on the ground accentuate the topography, while providing some protection from muddy paths. All this in addition to the crisp air, beautiful colors and the feeling you mention of walking through leaves.
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim - I couldn't express it better myself, you have encapsulated it all perfectly♥

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  6. How beautiful Rosemary. Each photograph is a delight.

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  7. Golden coins indeed; an apt description. Nothing so beautiful as the autumn palette. But then comes the beauty of snow in winter, followed by the glorious colors of spring. All of nature is glorious, each season offering a welcome change.

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    1. I think that we are fortunate to have such contrasts in our seasons, each one adding a different beauty to our year.

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  8. I wonder how is done to have at this time these golden colors in a cold northern climate..... I love your forest and the leaves down ! Here the rain and the mist have embraced us for a week ....So closed at home ....The winter has started .....Enjoy your walks !

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    1. Nature keeps her secrets to herself - may be the autumn is lingering on because we had such a long chilly spring. However, the golden colours and sunshine are such a welcome sight at this time of year.

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  9. Dear Rosemary, It's almost as good as being there. I have walked such paths...thank you for bringing back memories that were tucked way back in my conscience.

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    1. Hello Gina - it is lovely to think that this post has recalled hidden memories for you, it would have been especially good if we could have walked through the fallen leaves together.

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  10. Beautiful! How nice to have such wonderful colour in Decemeber!

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    1. Thank you Marie - I think that it is an exceptional year to have so much autumn colour still on the trees.

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  11. Beautiful! We've already passed that colorful season. Now, it's white and 10 celcius degrees below zero.

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    1. I was so surprised when I saw your snow photos Satu - autumn is lingering late here.

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  12. Good morning, Rosemary. I think you should have given your inner child permission to hurl some leaves - or at least to run, kicking at them along the path. Your Beech Wood is a beautiful place!

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    1. Of course you are right Pondside - there was nobody else around, and I should have just done what comes naturally.
      The Beech Wood is beautiful at all times of the year, and is a lovely place to walk.

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  13. What a beautiful place Rosemary!!!Lovely woods full of preety colours!!
    Wonderful pictures!!!Wish you a happy new month of December!!
    Dimi...

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    1. Thank you for your kind comment Dimi - I love this Beech Wood throughout all the seasons of the year.

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  14. I do like a nice tramp through the woods in autumn. I am with you when it comes to beech woods, there is nothing nicer: Elegant and stylish all year round, even in winter.
    You have taken some lovely photographs.
    Bye for now,
    Kirk

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    1. Dear Kirk - it is really interesting how the autumn colours are lingering on this year - I put it down to the lack of strong winds and the long chilly spring.

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  15. They are beautiful photographs Rosemary, you have captured the essence of late autumn perfectly.

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    1. Thank you Jessica - it is all down to the woods themselves which were looking spectacular in the brilliant sunshine on Saturday.

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  16. Ever such a beautiful photos Rosemary. You are lucky we have this year such a late autumn with mild weather so that after your travels you still found these gorgeuos autumn colours of the trees.

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    1. Thank you Janneke - it is surprising that here we are in December, and it is still looking more like the end of October. I think that it may have something to do with the late spring we had.

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  17. Splendid photos, Rosemary! I would like to walk and walk... sigh... it is the same here. Trees are still wearing their leave gowns - usually they are naked at this time of the year. It has become very, very cold though and the wind is fresh and brisk. Just the way I love it... Enjoy your days! Christa

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    1. I think that in Europe we are fortunate that we have four distinct seasons - each one with something very special about them for us to appreciate and enjoy.

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  18. Wauw...what a beautiful colours.
    I wonder....there are so many leave's yet.
    Here the most leave's are on the ground.
    youre photo's are amazing.

    Greetings,
    Inge, my choice

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    1. Thank you Inge for your very kind comment. I love it when the leaves are lying thickly on the ground, but it is amazing that there are still so many leaves still on the trees too.

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  19. Gorgeous!! Such a rich display of golds still. The trees in DC are all bare. It's been really cold here. Feels like Winter. Happy December!

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    1. It is really surprising how the autumn is still hanging on - if we get a really cold spell then I think that will be the end of the leaves until the spring.

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  20. Dear Rosemary, It's lovely to see your the autumn colours, they are so beautiful. I remember other walks you have taken through these woods. They look so good in every season!
    Sarah x

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    1. Dear Sarah - I never tire of this wood whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter - the trees are so tall, grand and majestic. However, the colours are really wonderful still as you have shown on your blog too.

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  21. Rosemary, your beechwoods are very beautiful - and you have taken some superb photos of them. What a wonderful place to wander at this time of year. I love the description of golden coins, everything looks golden here with that lovely deep copper carpet of leaves.
    I must admit, I am appreciating this mild autumn and early winter. I'm in no hurry to see the leaves disappear because that will mean a bare, bleak winter landscape.

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    1. I feel fortunate to have been able to walk in the wood and appreciate the colours this year, but I do think that it is unusual for the leaves to still be hanging on now.
      I have noticed that the bulbs are coming up in the garden already, before we know where we are the snowdrops will be with us again.

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  22. From your pictures I can see what a beautiful day it was, perfect for taking pictures then of course.
    You captured the magic of Autumn perfectly Rosemary!
    Marian

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    1. Thank you Marian - a day later would not have been the same - Saturday sparkled all day long.

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  23. A magnificent show of autumn colors , I wish had a wood like this near my home .

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    1. It is surprising how very tall and straight these Beech trees are when they are already growing 700 feet high and on the edge of a steep escarpment.

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  24. Dear Rosemary,

    You live in a simply gorgeous corner of the world! I imagine that if this were my neighborhood, I would practice walking meditations. You are indeed lucky to be able to experience these sights regularly!

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    1. Dear Mark - you will have seen this wood so many times that you must feel you already know it through all its different seasons. It is very photogenic.

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  25. Hi Rosemary, your photos of the trees in their autumn color are just magnificent! How nice that they are close to your house so that you just can go for a walk to enjoy them. Too bad that you didn't give your inner child a free pass ;-)! It certainly would have been fun to play with the leaves. Thanks for sharing this beautiful English forest on your blog. I truly enjoyed seeing it!
    Christina

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    1. Dear Christina - thank you for your kind comments, pleased that you enjoyed seeing our lovely Beechwood.
      Of course you are quite right, I should have just abandoned myself to the moment and enjoyed the leaves as I would have done when young.

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  26. Thank you for this post, rosemary. How I’d love to walk this beechwood in person! You captured your Gold December so nicely that I feel as if looking up into the sky through the less dense colored leaves and hearing the cracking sound under my feet myself. I’m always impressed how things are so magically beautiful at their final moments. Not only the leaves but also the straight sky-piercing trunks are fascinating. When you have time, please have a visit to see the autumn colors of my part of the world, though my photos are not so clear and crisp as yours.

    Yoko

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    1. Dear Yoko - I am happy that you enjoyed walking the Beechwood with me - Saturday was such a glorious day which enhanced the remaining colours on the tree and on the ground. I shall pop over to visit you during the day where I know I shall enjoy seeing the autumn colours of Japan.

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  27. A bed of autumn leaves, such lovely colours and must be a delight to view.

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    1. It is lovely that the autumn colours are lasting such a long time.

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  28. Hello hello Rosemary! It's been a while since I've had the pleasure of a visit-- and now I'm rewarded with this beautiful post! Your photos perfectly capture the lovely walk-- thank you for taking us along!
    Warm regards,
    Erika

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    1. Dear Erika - lovely to hear from you - I have enjoyed the way the autumn season has hung on for so long this year.
      I expect everything is hectic for you all at the moment with the busy Christmas season now in full swing. Hope all is well with you and your family.

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  29. Your beechwood trees sure are beautiful, you live is such a picturesque spot. You must have been thoroughly delighted to enjoy their autumn tones yet again.

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    1. Dear Karen - we have been travelling during October and November, so it was lovely to return and discover that the autumn colours were still flourishing in the Beechwood.

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  30. I'm enjoying this long golden Autumn so much - I just hope the winter is not as long as last years!

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  31. What stunning photos ... I feel as those I could reach in and touch those trees.

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    1. Dear Marina - last Saturday was such a fabulous day and the woods were looking perfect.

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  32. Beautiful Rosemary. There is such a beautiful sense of satisfaction to be had by walking on a crispy carpet of crunchy Autumn leaves. I am so looking forward to getting out and about this weekend to enjoy the December air.

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    1. Hold on to your hat Paul - looking out of the window now it looks as if it could be breezy.

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  33. Stunning. I just love the way autumn leaves glow! x

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    1. Thanks Penny - a beautiful sunny day helped too.

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  34. Gorgeous photos, Rosemary and I'm glad you managed to take them before the storms stripped the rest of the late leaves from the trees. It really has been a prolonged autumn this year.

    PS Next time give in to your inner child. I always do where piles of leaves are concerned. :-)

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    1. It is now hard to believe that last Saturday was such a beautiful day.
      You are right of course - next time I will.

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“You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you - you have to go to them sometimes”

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