The more you look, the more you find

How can leaves that all fall from the same tree in autumn look so unique?

Poplar

The smell of falling golden poplar leaves on a warm early autumn afternoon is not to be missed.

Neither Out Far Nor In Deep

The people along the sand
All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.

As long as it takes to pass
A ship keeps raising its hull;
The wetter ground like glass
Reflects a standing gull

The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be--
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea.

They cannot look out far.
They cannot look in deep.
Btu when was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?

Bushy Park Red Deer

The deer are starting the rut in Bushy Park. I see a great deal of activity. 

The males are rubbing up against trees:

The females are herding anxiously together:

And I can hear the bellowing of the stags all across the park.

I can't wait for the first fog.

Hop-picking in Kent

Rising early to be in the hop garden by 7am, I watch the sky turn from breath-taking red striations to a crisp September blue. It's rained heavily overnight and the hops are drenched and soon I am, too. Slowly, we make our way down the rows of hops, pulling and pressing the bines into the trailer. I've been doing this on and off since student days: a time when families of Eastenders would still come down for their annual "holiday". These have long been replaced by a posse of family friends and work-focused eastern europeans, but little else has changed. Possibly my favourite time of year. Liberating and life-enhancing.

Autumn foods

This fawn was chewing on (what I think were) acorns. It didn't look like it was enjoying them very much. 

Autumn colours