Autumn
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
John Keats, 1820
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNNbAh5q4rgFrammpbX5yliHej8qQ4QyfH0WLtqxxL9IQSKSXe0ZV8SYnnA1cwwpywzJwNubsH66kTcUac3PhBdAOraapuej-6FabbJq7Dyc1P4YaMo4HiHOYJyqJ38E6dQMWxXkDUeH9/s640/1.jpg) |
The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is beginning to put on a splendid display. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTIFnw_bkwHk3n8zkX8rOUVdWh290QdK3DcBAoWO7AmrXu-C2wiBxpudi8Y7VxqovcdoovwZziwyqQ83y6-JfdVNJPhG3NiihAGu8pnhqNgUIdMSI3T6YPh3wAGhJN7qsPmciLynh8RH7/s640/2.jpg) |
The persimmons (Diospyros spp) decorate the bare twigs of their tree. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6zqUTN16dB-FuJeiORzfYfqUQaNAka1EQFkdWG8AyOliRNFq_HerKTwXq2YPRZSS0_KYd5i-1KYP-yrRxEcOu7rc13JhNA6QR4AoCBEXnb2rstsuLOX88lU0FI_dATaNmyDFIMdtxSvJ/s640/3.jpg) |
Myrtle (Myrtus communis) berries make a beautiful show |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFj5ojjx6uGmxmw3crEcQH6XnBXfS1S9FRWTxq0nBL4VSwDm8S8s7GGNrmQ249ENhkS7lNdXRXEJ-dovE5Dsv77loCCKGqPkoezvv-L-EWW0c_Z-MFG6iBtxINdTaeiWgy-DWHKGsprEg/s640/4.jpg) |
The bergenias (Bergenia cardifolia) make a splendid show. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tsUwE_7JBlx-3ibGlWJwxP_TWxvR_s2yGblGNQO6KGnLmWJ0-TC3W31w4RBQiaPgou6UOofJKQGE690swCSjEwSJEi7WKBjET5Bnl9lwWoCuV32GWZVodTOj1VvwSOmYYrGvUMgs_fKI/s640/5.jpg) |
The African yellow daisy (Euryops spp) brightens up even the dullest day. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tL7KC-gkPYyQym0OEk0YN9bZvyr1QtkNqGGL5lgDDGEZFS4wJahd8OClP60Ng4akVvpiUiJevpHsSWJj_B26hlEuaui4kUth_Y0EhuqK1ko71QLpf2OaN6ummW33My-Zzib-8XyDXSBX/s640/6.jpg) |
Nasturtium leaves love catching the raindrops. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau5D0H-FcbhBjn3B2QQexx8jBBapbqhae5eznwuzQN1Ki0jQNNYTjv3Tbr1dHZXVmnZE63ymuntrXuRBRrV6xjLpcPmKNoXMmyoY7s7cFKS29322zypr_3rXlD8RyKGFcGECou2FOXMZs/s640/7.jpg) |
Ripening grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) promise sweet delights in mid-winter. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjig9L42Dra-Y2V7W3_2cBPuDESW1fyIt8hOgYWNwkuElEyHQ986ABLvQK7p9qlsqloo1rTapUyEZcf1QAh9XuMaWYuioEAkhg54tHZl7cDoXmg3vFaTB19ignn1oCbCeac5OVfojkeC3DU/s640/8.jpg) |
One of the least demanding and most rewarding of fruit trees: The tamarillo (Solanum betaceum). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DMrPnf-9M2imw30SrvZGQqe4b5qOdGhF-sDD1UxTyQeGCLQJY5JxGAeLzZM09SOZrP3QQm7PLYT5NiVWHNuBP8Ra7e5lqRb67rekDlMEV249SlzToNpgTcDOpMNPYxOHeP4xBiZYan3T/s640/9.jpg) |
A discarded fig leaf leaving branches shamelessly bare... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc_vsITxi4_lNMp1Vjt9SdujwI0egHZB-T9RbUXUGRWN60PfNoSacgupwCmRGgS3ScZ_jf62a0wE4BA0lghPPRz7oyrh8WvWP9oCBAt73H5RWc7RtoRwqs1PCe3xuY6uLS7ATDZDjyCsq/s640/10.jpg) |
One of the last yellow tea roses, braving the cold and wet weather. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmp0WhXj7GqyHk2afIIdzmFPSg8Tz-x_P_e6x7JA0UVqHzecztEmRp6YH3g4nS29_WzEjC9REkdf_A9P_CEc_tlBtP7Mqhdkpz-tIATN5q_oHGrD2C6QUPqwN0ic8BnWEvnVxMh3E225g/s640/11.jpg) |
This one is rather sad... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrr5aCCW2aUKEF40sS4W0bR870plFbBFdaSG-19NlKa188sLflBTLicSNnKUyTLeiZbxxYmYpzF5oj8mXUZoFssEqeZnBcYiGz70goBsRX1V8PwS1nokcEY712-2b7aoKENzTWk0IffZh/s640/12.jpg) |
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) leaves choosing a watery grave. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIuFqD8HPZm118ajPCL7yfM_91_rNF3atdIuuqtqU6n13m5jfXJlvdJLxjHe1JzJdhFZS-E760nl4RWmKzXcMA7ynu3NLOyH6Agd2SLo0-PJf1Q-uDb4NzUf2wafxYYv5xRMLY8WjQ4c4/s640/13.jpg) |
Beautiful, bright blooms of the Camellia sasanqua are at their best now. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzDpJAt4RVWUlDiYp1SUxEAgKoUqyiF7dZIu7ZGAcQPXNXllrwTqoIIZ7L7ds-RadV6ElXjwUJ0jt5rWFybXAQAiCdqwyKIlW_Lf_EiMNLOSiHXwML45VZIU_gBsa631k53zc2-xQPD39/s640/14.jpg) |
The humble Viola tricolor rarely stops blooming. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjlZyAR1mIY3ePTJ49LwXlr_-bNwHoZdtca7Wym-A63BI-ONyFJb3vMc1mVuEd32tEgq89u-w3XIMwVF81OTZYIjnb1Mh9wSTcgeHpaXqzj-SBLHJnqL91FdrnXOmE_eOrZcJyDoFNEc3/s640/15.jpg) |
Irish strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) flowers, soon to be succulent prickly berries. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lDLKzWmGx7exs9IezZev4JjNkK2XnxE_3xjrqNK1XhDf6bRamNjPSRZ_rz_GoSDZs5uP-qDAqvL6nZyGm4OTWDIiQiWrAaGxLSw-QUmEwGoyv0S1vyDIb1fjzNurKydhO_lB-GFZ2c_j/s640/16.jpg) |
Succulents always look good whatever the season! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF2FvEZ7iXm-2tElDrOUb6oVJePFyAAPwhlLqDkzuzplT23LnHElcwE9k2XUxTloo29Dheotv5j11WbJdTRI2wF7SGcuh4lY84HnajBJYa7XczLmNUJyFokJBMlbpYprHda18_65yG59m/s640/17.jpg) |
The chrysanthemums are just about finishing their display now. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsEVERXnBBkQUnBH5mL8cq9vDy7vn3WLapa4l_x-HT1L6wQ9aVZhyGRIjOidt3v4OMwq3e0QCkf9CAeQ3gFGAy1w7Xjzh8L0mCc4CBYE4lPvTEPxU7MxlnrtKH_impPLMPS5AMrKeYrbj/s640/18.jpg) |
It's a beautiful season... |