Philorth Woods: Look for signs that summer's done

The trees in Philorth Wood are starting to turn, the horse chestnuts in particular are changing colour whilst some beeches are almost bare of leaves.

Grey Granite and Rufus decided to make the most of the beautiful sunny, autumnal morning, mild enough for Grey Granite not to need a jacket as they set off along the Line from Philorth Halt.  At the end of the first section of the Line Grey Granite and Rufus couldn't decide whether to walk to Rathen Station or through Philorth Woods, it was such a 'glad that I live am I' sort of morning,  not to be wasted indoors, that they decided to combine both walks. In Grey Granite's earlier life she was particularly fond of the hymn, 'Look for signs that summer's done, winter's drawing near' and was reminded of it this morning.

Rose hips

Elder berries on a particularly tall, leggy bush towering  above the rhododendrons along the Philorth driveway



Horse chestnut leaves and conkers



Bare trees on the edge of the wood



Ripening brambles



Rosebay willowherb seeds, the empty seed cases curled like an extraordinary fascinator.