Farewell to summer, farewell to autumn
By Reina Free
It is the very beginning of November, and although we had suddenly frosts and starry nights, the days of blue skies and warm sunshine of the last week of October continued.
And what a glorious long autumn we are having; the leaves on the trees are transformed into beautiful colours, especially when the sun shines upon them.
After lengthy travel consultations on rooftops and telephone wires the swallows left on their long journey for their winter sojourn in Africa. During the months of summer it struck me how very few birds there were in my garden. But surprise surprise, small flocks of sparrows were spotted in Oxford Street. No, not the one in London, but our very own Oxford Street in Lee Common. What a joy it was to see again those cheeky, boisterous brown/beige little birds, now so rare. Years ago they were everywhere, but sadly not any more.
I have seen recently large flocks of crows flying over the wood, groups of dancing up and down finches, starlings and pigeons. I was told the reason why it is that they gather together. During cold winter nights they snuggle up to keep each other warm in hedgerows and secluded ‘hidey holes’, hawthorn and holly very heavy in red berries, a generous foodstore, when insects, beetles and worms have gone underground.
With a little bit of luck the grass does not need to be mown any more until spring returns again. Also the garden is ‘put to bed’.
It does not take much for us to become overwhelmed, even depressed, by all the bad news we read about in the newspapers and see on television. Yet a few moments to stop and stare. Be still, to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the autumn colours, the breathtaking splendour of the sunset, which can lift our spirits over and above the many problems that surround us.