Sunday 1 November 2009

Sunday safari....

Yesterday was warm. We have been fortunate these last few weeks......
it has been a soft and gentle autumn.

Plenty of bees and so many blooms......


my gardens very much alive.
So many ladybirds........everyone I speak to has an explosion of these lovely garden bugs.
What a difference 24 hours can make. Temperatures have dropped, rain and strong winds hit the area. To my amazement, as I walked into the garden very early this morning, a Kingfisher flew out of the grasses. You will not understand my excitement unless you have ever seen one in the wild. The beautiful flash of blue and red set my heart racing....sadly I could not get a photograph......
The leaves are falling ..........
and despite the foul weather a lone bee worked the plants on the patio. Bumble bees never cease to amaze me......
Little people came to stay.......
and helped Nanna clear leaves........

How fast they grow.......
Beautiful leaves, in a year leaf mould to put back to the soil. It would appear at last our Indian summer is over, and autumn has at last arrived........
Happy safari Sunday........

23 comments:

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
Happy November.
Seeing your Grandchildren raking leaves reminded me of when my children were small and helped me in the garden. They do grow up fast.
The wind has shifted and is blowing warm southernly breezes. Indian Summer is just beginning in my back yard. I have many marigolds left for the butterflies and bees.
I too want to bask in the sun.
Happy Safari...I think of you every Sunday. I enjoy hunting bugs with you.
Stay strong,
Sherry

Gail said...

Just like that it seems it's over! It will happen like that here...we will color cling to the trees but most will be blown away in a November storm. I've missed the bees...just a few bumbles are found sleeping on the goldenrod but I don't find them in the garden. The grands look~~grand and happy in the sunshine. Have a lovely and peaceful week! gail

Liz said...

Wonderful photos Cheryl, despite November's rather mean beginning today cleared up nicely here and now only the wind remains.

Amazing to have seen a Kingfisher! Do you have a stream/river nearby?
A colleague at work has seen them in her garden, she has a stream at the bottom... Not at all jealous!

Bees are hardy little insects and will apparently come out at the first sign of sun... Ours appeared along with the flies and again, Ladybirds!

Cheryl said...

Dear Sherry....

The grandchildren are a reminder of my own dear children. In the blink of an eye time passes, I try to cherish these sweet moments.

A cold wind is blowing.....stripping the trees of leaves......quite envigorating.....I shall walk Nella tomorrow and feel the wind on my face. I love to wear Flora scarf......and I think little hat needs to come out of the drawer and into the garden with me......

I think of you every Sunday....how will we manage in the weeks to come??


Dear Gail......I am feeling slight sad as I get ready to bid farewell to the bees. I will, without doubt, miss their sweet presence.

The grandchildren are sunshine on a cloudy day.....there is nothing in this world as sweet as seeing them sunggled in their little beds, worn out from fresh air and fun.......

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz....

We have two rivers nearby, so are indeed very fortunate. Also our next door neighbour has a huge pond full of fish, I think the kingfisher was heading that way and I disturbed it. I also have a pair of pheasants close by. I get so frustrated that I cannot get photographs. Why can't they be nice and easy like bugs?? I think I shall have to start cutting down a few twigs etc and try to look like a tree...lol

Miranda Bell said...

Dear Cheryl - what a contrast with the weather this weekend - sounds like we have similar... at the start of your lovely posting I was thinking that one of the few places that I'd seen bees this weekend was on my Abelia and then a photo of the same in your garden... I think I'll be raking leaves all week with the amount that have fallen in just one day! I've been busy today putting up the bird table I was given last Xmas so the birds have a good stock of food now as the temperatures are due to take quite a dive this week... have a good week yourself and will visit again soon... Miranda x

Rose said...

As always, I enjoy seeing the bees in your garden, Cheryl. But I especially enjoy seeing those little "worker bees" making short work of the leaves:) I'm hoping to have a few of my little "bees" out to help me soon, too.
We woke up to frost on the garden and lawn today, but the sun was shining. Right now, I think I'll take the sun over warmer temps! Happy Autumn!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I love the expression "little people." I used to call my niece and nephew small humans and then, at their request, medium-sized humans, LOL! We had a bunch of ladybugs all of a sudden one warm day before it got cold.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What great little garden helpers you have Cheryl. So many bumbles still about. Amazing to me who has none. I haven't seen a butterfly in days. It will be some time before they are about here again. Sigh~~

Corner Gardener Sue said...

We've been having lots of cloudy, rainy, cool weather. Today, it got up to 70, and we worked outside until we ran out of energy. The next number of days look to have highs in the 50s.

I'm glad you got to have fun with your grandkids. Our grandson will be 2 in January. We got to play in the leaves with him Saturday. I look forward to working with him in the garden as he gets older. He seems to have an interest in gardening. He loves to water plants. Also, he'll point and say, "flower".

marmee said...

cheryl,
hard to believe it is november. this is one of my favorite months...i love all the changes it brings. so glad you had a gentle autumn...and so much life in the garden. i love seeing riley and poppi helping you in the garden. what a wonderful time together.
happy autumn.

Cheryl said...

HI Miranda......it is cold this morning, brrrrr....cold and wet.

My feeders are all out and the birds are feeding well. They need all the help they can get.

Have a good week.........

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose.....Little worker bees were great.....they really do bring the garden alive! Even their squabbles bring a smile....

Hope the sun stays a little while, it is good to feel the warmth now as the winter approaches......

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa....the weather obviously isn't suiting your bees and butterflies, but then it is November...
I have been very fortunate to have an extended summer and had their company for a little longer......

naturewitch said...

Hi Cheryl

The children appear to be growing very fast indeed! And what terrific little helpers they are. It's so good you can pass on your love of nature to them.

We've had fickle weather here too with one day thinking it is still winter and the next thinking it is summer.... warm tomorrow, so a short day only in the garden before going inside.

But we have another bee colony, so I'm very happy. xx

NCmountainwoman said...

Just beautiful! There's always this variation in late October and early November. I welcome the sunny days. Great photos of your helpers.

Cheryl said...

Hi Sue....your little Grandson will bring something very special to your gardens.....two is such a wonderful and enchanting age. Enjoy each and every moment.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Naturewitch....With regard to the weather I have not liked this year too much. The weather has jumped and played around.....I am confused, goodness knows how the wildlife must feel.

Ooooooh how exciting.....lucky you.

o2bhiking said...

As always, I am enjoying your photos and stories. I cannot wait to see my granddaughter again. She is growing so fast, and you do not get those days back.

Itermittant rain and nice weather here as well, often on the same day. Art

Roses and Lilacs said...

It almost look as if the bee is wearing an extra warm coat.

We had winds and rain and our leaves are gone too. It takes a while to get used to the naked limbs. Very stark.
Marnie

Cheryl said...

Hi Art....good to hear from you.
Grandchildren are so very precious. We must do our very best to enjoy and cherish each and every moment.

Have a good week....

Cheryl said...

Thank you Marnie for pointing that out...the bee does indeed look as though he has a special overcoat on.

I quite like the starkness of winter.....it is the only time we can really see the bones of the landscape.....

Wendy said...

Your little grandchildren are growing so fast! I don't know where the time goes! Nice that they help you with the raking and around the garden.

Your bees do seem to be hardy creatures and the patio flowers are still beautiful.

How wonderful to see a kingfisher in the wild! That was a rare gift indeed!