Our October began bathed in the rosy glow of ancestral landscapes, the farm fields and vistas of four generations of maternal grandfathers, the millstone grit uplands of Derbyshire’s High Peak District. It would have been a hard life on Callow Farm, and especially for the grandmothers who would have managed a never ending round home and farm duties while rearing six or even eight children (the parish records suggest that many more Foxes survived into adulthood than were lost in infancy, but then yeoman farming folk would have been well nourished and well aired by comparison with most town dwellers down the centuries).
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By the time we returned home, summer was definitely on the wane in our Shropshire garden although many flowers were still holding their own. Even now, the front garden beside the road is bright with helianthus, sedum, Michaelmas daisies, purple toadflax, small pink roses and the stalwart geranium, Rozanne. And out back in the guerrilla garden there are sunflowers and dyer’s chamomile with its bright yellow daisies. There are also Japanese anemones, hesperantha, zinnias, snapdragons and the shrubby convolvulus still on the go. So kind of the garden to ease us so gently into autumn.
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Meanwhile, around the town and farm fields the change of season is more apparent:
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And finally a glimpse of the priory ruins and the little tower on the Prior’s House:
Tish Farrell 
I’m always in awe of the beautiful photos you capture. Love the golden light!
That circular cloud is so interesting! I’ve never seen anything like it. It looks like a giant halo over the hills.
Many thanks, Joanne. That halo is amazing isn’t it – a military flying expert chum suggested that it may be the trail of an early morning training flight. Or it could indeed by a halo on mother earth 🙂
Although I believe the former explanation is the most plausible, I like the idea of the latter 🙂
It’s definitely a contrail. Cloud physics is my specialty and I can tell you that it’s not naturally occurring. But I actually love the way contrails line the sky. They can be quite beautiful.
Thank for that verfication, Swarn. And what a fine speciality to have. Also struck me that it could be the planet sending up emergency smoke signals.
Yes, if the Gaia hypothesis is correct, then the Earth is definitely trying to signal the universe for help at this point. lol
You study cloud physics?! That is SO COOL!!
Thanks, I think so! :). Ever since I was in the 6th grade I’ve been fascinated by clouds , but it wasn’t until university that I found out how cool it is to hear what’s going on inside of them. 🙂
Yeah I’m kind of wondering Tish if you could just make vacations packages where some could be Tish Farrell for a couple of weeks.
“Yes, I’d like to take a trip to the U.K. Could I please get the Tish Farrell package? Thank you.”
Oh that’s so sweet. There are certainly many beautiful places here, but my other half would however tell prospective travellers that my visual packages also may come with a lot of verbal ranting about the state of the nation and our slippery brigandocracy – so maybe not quite as good as it looks 🙂 🙂
Well I already do that anyway, which just makes me more convinced that this vacation package will fit me well. LOL
This is sounding a very excellent plan then 🙂
”And did those feet ….”
Gorgeous Miss T.
Thank you, Ark.
These are lovely, Tish. As I read of the names of the flowers, I was in awe. You are so gifted. 🙂
Thanks so much, Celestine 🙂
Thanks for the stroll Tish. Walks around your parts must be lovely. (Barring the rain of course.)
Bon wee-end Rafiki.
Asante sana 🙂
🙂
WeeK-end. (I need to learn typing!) 😉
A beautiful sequence Tish, I especially love all the warm autumn colours and happy to see the ‘halo cloud’ again :o) xxx
I thought the halo needed another outing. Many thanks 🙂
Such lovely photos. The flowers inn your garden are magnificent and the views of the surrounding countryside so quintessentially English. Together with your words they transport me across the globe to an entirely different experience of life.
So happy to provide cross-globe travel services, Suzanne 🙂
Thanks – armchair travel is my main mode of travel at present. 🙂
There’s a lot to be said for it I find 🙂
Such lovely autumnal colours in your part of the world Tish, and so many flowers still in bloom! They’ll have a shock when this cold Arctic wind hits them! Stay warm this weekend 🙂
Thanks, jude. Not looking forward to icy blasts.
Oh, the light and colours – and your garden flowers – a lovely post!
Thank you, Ann-Christine 🙂
Have to agree with the uniqueness of the circular cloud as well as the beauty of your garden. I saw a number of hawthorn trees while in France. The berries were beautiful!
janet
Hawthorn trees are rather amazing. Very beautiful in spring too. And the berries a good for the heart – in body and spirit!
Even when the leaves don’t change as much as usual, the color of the sun in October has that wonderful amber color. It makes all your pictures glow … and your pictures are truly stunning. I always thought that living in the country, even if lacking ‘city wealth’ had to be a healthier choice. London INVENTED smog, after all.
Thank you, Marilyn. The glow is definitely good, and one needs it too – a good glow. London did indeed invent a lot of nasty things – including tax havens.
What an interesting and informative October it has been for you Tish and that cloud is so unique, yes maybe a halo… I would love to stroll past your front garden, with all the flowers still in bloom it would be a delight to see. But it sounds as if winters blast is on the way
yes, we diefinitely need to make the most of the flowers today.
TISH, I CANNOT EXPRESS TO ENOUGH, HOW MUCH READING YOU BLOG AND LOOKING AT YOU PHOTOGRAPHY MAKES ME WANT TO GET BACK INTO WRITING AND JUST PLAINLY GET OUT OF THE APARTMENT AND TAKE PICTURES, I REALLY MISS DOING BOTH. 🙂
The earth in its final glory as it closes down for the winter. Beautiful!!
Thank you. It’s a slow closing here but definitely heading into winter.
Absolutely wonderful both photos and writing! So much enjoyed!
Thank you, Agnes. All best wishes to you for 2019.