This took me by surprise as I rounded a bend on our woodland walk. Bright red berries performing an arietta to Autumn; such a brilliant contrast to the russets and browns hanging onto the otherwise bare branches.
Isn’t it delightful the way seasons hang on to each other, leaving berries for birds to carry the last of the seeds for the future?
These berries made me smile. They were more a harbinger of Advent and the fast approaching holiday season that will soon be upon us than the mere remains of last summer’s bounty.
Oh, a mighty wind is blowing here, reaching dangerous gusts for pedestrians and motorists – and anyone daring to near Lake Michigan. Winter is knocking on our door, my friends, but, how very thoughtful it is that Autumn left us a few lasting seeds of hope.
A lovely post and a beautiful photo! It appears that you captured it during our brief sunny spell today. You’re so right about the wind and winter – it makes me shiver just to hear it rattling the house!
LikeLike
Thank you, Janet. I actually took it on Friday, which was such a nice day. Today was sure blustery. Thank you.
LikeLike
Dear Penny,
Those red berries must tempt the birds both with their color and their juiciness. They certainly tempted your camera into producing a lovely photograph of the gifts of fall to winter.
Peace.
LikeLike
Thank you, Dee, they certainly did.
LikeLike
I’m pleased you have evaded winter long enough to have seen these and shared your photo with us. We are fortunate that the change of seasons is not abrupt, giving us opportunity to gently ease from one to another.
However, all such easing into winter ended here today, and any berries which may have remained exposed now wear a new, white coat. The snow commenced mid-afternoon, arriving on strong, swirling winds, wet and heavy, and occasionally accompanied by bursts of thunder. The winds piled it quite high in places, and our trees and shrubs are bowed in submission tonight, so I hope for brilliant sunshine with the morning to ease their burden. I am grateful for the beauty of it all, but oh so happy I don’t need to venture out into it.
LikeLike
So far, we have been lucky, Karen, but, I fear snow is coming. Yesterday was blustery, raw, and oh-so-threatening and our time is due.
Sounds like you, however, have had your first true snowfall. It is always so eerie to me when snow comes with thunder. I hope it melts soon for you. Stay warm – and inside.
LikeLike
How beautifully reflective this is, Penny. May the bright berries of hope go with you into the harsh moments of winter.
LikeLike
Thank you, Juliet, and, indeed, I will try to remember them in the deep of winter.
LikeLike
Oh I can almost feel the cold! How lovely to find the berries…treasure! I love to watch the birds, and I’m curious to know what winter birds you see, Penny? Do you try to feed birds in winter? Maybe I shouldn’t ask you to tell me here…sounds like blog post material to me!! Debra
LikeLike
I do, too, Debra. We have sparrows, though there numbers have decreased this year, Canadian robins sometimes come around. Cardinals and goldfinch, such a contrast in color. Chickadees are often seen and then the larger birds, hawks. Several types of woodpeckers are around. We keep the finch feeder up and often see the yellow finch there from our kitchen windows, their song brightening the days. Hmmm, I’ll have to think on that for a blog one day. Thanks for the idea.
LikeLike
Nature has a wonderful way of flowing from one season to another, and gives so freely beauty and food for all.
LikeLike
Isn’t it amazing, Marilyn?
LikeLike
I love your photo! They say a lot of berries on the bushes means a hard winter but am not sure that’s so. I hope not anyway. This year I would be most happy with a mild ‘green’ winter. In other words ‘normal’ for the UK, something we haven’t seen here in about 3 years.
LikeLike
Thanks, Cath. I’ve heard that, too, and shiver at the thought. Brrr. Here in the midwest we are used to snow, but, predictions are that we will have a lot of it. I know you have had some weather changes there, so, here’s hoping to “normal” there.
LikeLike
I always loved the last hangers=on. Don’t envy you with winter coming. Stay warm.
LikeLike
I will, Sallie. The wind died down and the sun is shining through here, in the 30’s. Brr.
LikeLike
Penny . . . .another FIRST PRIZE offering. . . . . absolutely beautiful!!
LikeLike
Aw, thank you Mary Anne. You are so sweet.
LikeLike
Great vivid colours – and the way you describe how the seasons connect, nature does this so well.
LikeLike
Thank you, Nicola. Nature certainly does, doesn’t it?
LikeLike
Dear Penny,
This was another post that spoke volumes. Made me think of the poem by
Emily Dickinson:
Hope is the thing with feathers…
That perches in the soul…
And sings the tune without the words…
And never stops—–
At all.
LikeLike
Wonderful poem, Marilyn! Thank you so much for sharing it. Emily Dickinson certainly pens hope well, doesn’t she?
LikeLike
Your red berries are beautiful. We have some similar ones here that I have tried to bring inside to make a winter bouquet. They didn’t do well inside. Oh well, I hope the birds can eat them.
The wind is blowing here, there is a glaze of ice on the pond, and there was literally frost on our pumpkins this morning. So here it comes…….winter.
LikeLike
Sorry you didn’t have luck making a winder bouquet, Janet. I’m sure the birds will like them, especially as winter is on it’s way. Brrr! Yesterday was so windy, but, we had some sun today that was so pleasant. Stay warm.
LikeLike
There is something so cheerful about red berries in winter. Lovely picture and words.
LikeLike
There is, isn’t there Nicola? They brighten up the bleakness. Thank you so much.
LikeLike