BS: Autumn colour in England

Subject: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 02:24 PM

The turning of the leaves here this year has coincided with a long spell of bright sunny days.
Some say the colours are stronger this year because it has been so dry, but they surely make a brave sight when sunlit against a cloudless blue background.
It mitigates the ending of our best summer for years, and the coming of our cold, soggy winter.
How is it where you are? I hear that New England can put on a good show.
Keith.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Alba
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 02:41 PM

Yes New England can indeed put on a good autumnal show Keith.
It's nearly passed now where I am in Maine. A wind and rain storm midweek took care of the leaves around my place.
It is definetly my favorite Month here. Vibrant reds and yellows and oranges all mix with the evergreen Trees.
I drove down from Quebec a week ago and it was breathtaking.
Our Summer here was pleasant this year, not too humid for which I was grateful but as you say the Fall heralds the Winter's approach, which for us here means SNOW" and cold temps.
Stay warm in your part of the planet and Bon Hiver!! from Northern Maine.
JD

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Micca
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 02:45 PM

Keith, The Virginia creeper that covers my back fence is bright red just now and shows up the dark glossieness of the 2 holly trees very well , there are just a few Michaelmas daisies left to add a little blue to the picture against the blackberry bush. Indeed, the last display of colour as the temperature drops towards 0.


    Harvest moon and first frosts
       Octobers icy breath announces
       Funeral games for Samhain
       Christians "All Hallows"
       but its worth is known
       to ancient Celts
       burying the Sun
        like gold, 'til Spring
        can summon it forth
        with Beltane fires.

       But now rain,
       punctuating the summer
        comma,colon:stop.
       Quiet and unrelenting                     
       at the edge of thought

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Bassic
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 02:57 PM

Cue for a song......All together now

MY LADY OF AUTUMN

CH: My Lady of Autumn, sing me your song
Play me your tune; tell me I'm wrong
Tell me you don't mean the things that you say
Tell me that we'll find a way.

Your eye clear as winter, your touch fresh as spring
You weigh like the summer, free as birds on the wing
The seasons are changing, it's time you were gone
The colors of you will go on.

Fields that were golden are changing to brown
Leaves that were green now tumble to the ground
The warm sun of summer makes way for the snow
I know it's time; you must go.

The light, it is changing, the sky's overcast
Winter is here now, autumn is past
Deep in this dark world some warmth I must find
Though it's winter in the valley, it's still autumn in my mind.

Dave Webber

It fair warmz your cockles zinging that chorus dont it!! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 03:50 PM

The colours of the trees this year are the brightest I can recall. We've a lot of Canadian trees in Harlow, but normally even they seem a lot more subduied then they are back home - the weather this years has really brought them out in orange and red this year. And the native trees match them as well.

Anybody feel like posting some pictures?

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Alba
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 05:36 PM

Id love to post some pics McGrath but as I am VERY technically challenged Im afraid ...I don't know how:>(
JD

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Peg
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 09:16 AM

excellent color this year, in Massachusetts, Vermont and western New York. A long wet summer, and very cold temperatures just after very warm ones seem to be responsible. Some years it all goes straught to yellow; this year we are having weeks of high contrast reds agaist the green. Still plenty of time for leaf peeping, all!

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: C-flat
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 09:54 AM

Some stunning red and gold up here on Teesside. This morning my daughter and I walked up Roseberry Topping and spent some time enjoying the colours of the landscape.It has been the prettiest Autumn I can remember.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 01:31 PM

The most amazing autumn colours I have ever seen are on Cape Breton Island, just around this time, during the Celtic Colours Festival.

I assume this year is no exception?

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Emma B
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 05:36 PM

Drove back from shopping in Chester today in late afternoon sun and brilliant blur sky along holloways through the orchards of the Cheshire fruit growing area and home on the edges of the old Norman hunting forest of Delamere. The colours are only just beginning to change on the oldest trees and promise even greater glory to come!
This has also been the best autumn for years for damsons and plums, several branches broke under the weight of the fruit.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Phot
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 11:30 AM

The thirty mile ride to work for the past few weeks has been great, leaving just before the sun comes up, I've been treated to some fantastic sunrises crossing the Devon,Somerset border, the warm light really making the trees look a sight to behold.

It almost makes up for the bloody cold temprature!!
Wassail!
Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: running.hare
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 12:53 PM

It's Mid October & yeasterday I was Hot walking with both my coat & jumper round my waist!!! The veiws were stunning & the crisp sundrenched air justst adds to the Sharpness of the colours/ focus, not to mention some stunning sunsets.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Alba
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 07:05 PM

Thanks to Jeff. I have some pictures of Fall here in Maine up in the Events section. Take a peek if you feel inclined.
Thanks again Jeff!
JD

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 08:02 PM

Just had a look. Looks pretty good.

And I hadn't realized the Events section had so mnay pictures - really worth a visit, Up in Quick Links, scroll down to Members Photos and INfo, and then click on Photos, and then on Events.

Or take this short cut to Maine.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 08:39 PM

Just got back from England and was treated to spectacular autumn colors there, now home in Georgia, a week or two til they are in the trees are in their prime. I get two autumn color treats this year!

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: MBSLynne
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:39 AM

Definitely the brightest colours I've ever seen here.(Derbyshire/Leicestershire border) Just makes me wish I could paint! There have been some lovely sunsets and sunrises to add to it all. We've had the most brilliant spring and summer, the autumn so far is being wonderful...what can we expect from winter I wonder?

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: rock chick
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:47 AM

Beat me to it bassic, must have been at the same festival recently ;o)

Autumn is my favorite season, the colors always amaze me and give me great inspiration to get out the oils again and paint....that reminds me I must get on and finish that room ;o)

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: GUEST,James
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 10:00 AM

I don't think you can beat Nova Scotia for a spectacular autumn show, especially Cape Breton. I do agree that New England is very nice as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Bassic
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 10:07 AM

wish I had that kind of skill with oils..........find I get better results with the lotion myself...................;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Raedwulf
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 04:47 PM

There's a patch of road on the M40 - fireworks display! Reds, yellows, & greens; in all shades. I can't tell you which bit (except that it's (heading North) between the deep uphill cut beyond the M25, & Oxford, IIRC), but anyone that's driven it at this time of year knows which bit I mean. I can't drive it without making appropriate sound effects! {gg}

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 05:12 PM

bassic and rockchick, somehow I wonder if you are totally concentrating on the autumn colors, or if you have a whole different agenda! smile

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: MBSLynne
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:58 AM

Funny, motorways are a pain in the (include whatever bit of anatomy you find appropriate) but the embankments are beggining to be lovley mini nature reserves. Some of the best colours around here are on the A42/M42 banks.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Splott Man
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 06:49 AM

Stunning colours this year in S. Wales. We drove across country to Banbury festival for this very reason. The trees seem to be changing from the top down this year, So blending from red at the top down to green, especially the chestnuts. Although strong winds this week have done for the ones opposite my front window.
What a refreshing thread, no-ones being grumpy.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Phot
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:27 PM

What a sunrise! the trees exploded into red and gold this morning, and the mist in the Otter valley was the icing on the cake.

Shame I did'nt feel my feet for two hours! I think its time I got the Land Rover fixed!

Wassail! Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 03:02 AM

Raedwulf - do you mean the Stokenchurch cutting (otherwise known as ChickenShit Canyon - they used chicken guano as an organic glue to 'stick' the sides of the canyon up when it was first dug, before the grass could anchor the soil - it's pretty chalky so it took a while, and chicken shit glue was the best they could find)? It's the deep cutting that separates the London side from the Oxford side and when you go through it, you can see right across Buckinghamshire and half of Oxfordshire. That's a pretty stunning bit of scenery but I've missed my annual pilgrimage to the blackthorn stand this year. The person I go with had no time and now the sloes have all been eaten.

I work near Regent's Park in London, and it's been wonderful watching the trees throughout the year. First they were dark and black like a freshly tilled field, then a fine mist of grey like a cloud appeared, turning to green as the sun warmed it. In May they became a brilliant green sea of leaves and needles, and now they are yellow, red, bright orange and gold like a bonfire. Soon they'll be cool, dark earth again, and I'll watch them, carefully, for that first grey mist that means it's Spring again.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Peg
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 09:58 AM

How delightful it must be, to have such dramatic color in such beautiful countryside. I have spent time in England in October before but the colors were fairly mild; golds and browns mostly. I would find myself wishing I was back home in Massachusetts so as not to miss the best of the color!
Wish I could see it! Enjoy Samhain/summer's end.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 10:09 AM

Liz, you almost make me nostalgic for the ten years I worked in Regents Park at now defunct Bedford College!
I also see that M40 Stokenchurch gap (home of red kites and Vicar of Dibley exterior shots) on my way to The City of a Thousand Trades to see my dad (& will be again this weekend). Now I get my Autumn tints in my daily walks in the various Royal parks and forests in darkest Berks.
This Autumn I will mainly be wearing black...)

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: muppett
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 10:17 AM

Hardcastle crags just outside Hebden Bridge (W.Yorks)is brill at the mo.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: ossonflags
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 04:27 AM

Thanks Gordon.

Subject: RE: BS: Autumn colour in England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 06:16 AM

To or from Gordon?