Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.
Emily BRONTE
Autumn, when it hits just right, can be the most glorious of seasons – and this year, due to a warm, dry summer, we’ve been treated to some pretty spectacular displays here in our little South-Eastern corner of England.
There is nothing quite like the pop of an ochre tree against a bright blue sky to lift the spirits of the beholder.
Amber and Honey being Fox Red Labs, look like they were made for autumn. Add myself into the mix, and we’ve been quite the merry band of red-heads, tromping through the coppery foliage!
And just to add to the fun, we’ve also had an extra dog in tow for a few days this month – Holly, another one of Amber’s pups. What a joy to witness these three ginger-nuts waltzing around the park amid the whirling, swirling leaves.
There have been times over the last few weeks where they have reminded me of Chameleons, blending brilliantly into their surroundings. Talk about a game of Spot the Dog!
THE CYCLE OF LIFE
Autumn is a great reminder of the continuous cycle of nature. Autumn always seems to signal: change is in the air. As Summer goes out in a blaze of glory, the air gets cooler, crisper. Darker mornings set in. The gradual shortening of days. The comings and goings of the geese, some honking hello, others honking goodbye. The big old saucer of a moon. The arrival of the Redwings and Fieldfares and other migratory birds which frequent our soils from late autumn, flying in from Scandinavia in the hope of finding berries. The earth yielding bountiful crops, which are harvested in a celebration of thanksgiving.
I love the first few lines of this beautiful autumn poem by Rachel Field:
Something told the wild geese It was time to go Though the fields lay golden Something whispered, "Snow!"
I too, often marvel at the way these things just seem to happen. Endlessly. Without fail. Year upon year.
Yet, the bible shows us clearly that these things are not merely coincidence, but part of God’s wise and intricate design.
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.
Genesis 8:22
Right at the start, God established the seasons!
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.
Genesis 1:14
The moon is specifically mentioned for the marking of the seasons, and the sun is noted for its regular setting time.
He made the moon to mark the seasons, the sun knows when to set.
Psalm 104:19
What an incredible God, who makes everything so beautifully and perfectly! In His infinite wisdom, He made all things so well, bringing rhythm and harmony and variety to His Creation.
shifting seasons
The natural order of things can serve as a mirror for our own lives too. The seasons can serve as a metaphor, reminding us of the ever changing landscape of our lives. For myself as a Mother, I’m constantly amazed at how quickly I’m passing through the seasons- from parenting sticky-faced toddlers, to wide-eyed adventurers, to turbulent teens, and suddenly to adult children all with their own experiences and seasons! My heart can barely keep up at times, and hold the weight of all my hopes and dreams for my precious four.
Our lives are subject to highs and lows and shifts and changes. Just like in nature, our lives have a rhythm. Periods of growth. Periods of rest. Just like the crops, sometimes abundant other times, fallow. Even our spiritual walk can be subject to mountain-top views and valleys-like depths, to uphill climbs and tummy-turning downhill rushes, to lush plains of plenty, and dry desert paths.
JESUS – THE CONSTANT ONE
Psalm 23 reminds us so well that Jesus is our Good Shepherd! He is our Immanuel! He’s constantly with us- whether we’re in green pastures or walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
What comfort there is in knowing His rod and staff to guide and protect us in all the seasons of our lives.
What peace there is in knowing that He is the God who watches over our coming in and going out- now and forevermore – Psalm 121:8
What joy in walking through all the seasons of life beside an ever-faithful God, whose love is as constant as the sun.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.
I’m a happy lass when the month of May finally arrives.
Although temperatures in London can vary from year to year, generally speaking, May tends to bring with it enough sunlight to wake up my dormant plants and convince them that it’s time to get on with the business of growing.
This year, we’ve been fortunate enough to get a warm, dry Spring, with plenty of sunshine- which makes rising early something of a joy. What could be nicer than an early morning gander around the garden with a cup of tea in hand?
There’s always something new to see! And hear. A cheerful, male blackbird has become a regular morning visitor, perched high above me on a particular chimney pot, where he serenades me awake with a particularly impressive range of whistles and trills. The song of the blackbird really is a delightful sound. (You can read a story about a Blackbird here! https://angelajelf.com/2025/05/22/the-art-of-brevity-a-story-in-50-words/)
Occasionally, I get to witness a free aerodynamic display, courtesy of the Swifts, who reappear around the start of May every year. (You can read a poem about them here: https://every-day-encounters.blog/2022/05/17/the-swifts/)
A few times this month, I’ve also been rewarded for having risen early by a flock of Canada Geese, flying in V formation overhead and honking their ‘Good Morning!’
And as for the flowers…well… I’ll just let the photos do the talking.
1st – 5th May
These Iris, which were originally dug up from my mum’s garden, are the first flowers to bloom- and they never cease to amaze me!
They always remind me of the words of Jesus:
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matt 6:28-29)
8th – 15th May
The yellow rose pictured here is a fairly new edition- it’s got an unusual saucer-shaped flower and bears the name: ‘Tottering By Gently’ which is very apt when you see it fluttering on the breeze! I’m so pleased it’s flowered at the same time as the Iris this year. The colours, being on the opposite side of the colour wheel, look so beautiful together.
15th – 20th May
It’s lovely to see the hardy geraniums starting to fill out and flower – and to count up all the rose-buds, which are on the cusp of opening.
One thing gardening never fails to teach me, is patience. A rose simply won’t be rushed – and that’s all there is to it.
It’s also lovely to have a constant companion, in the form of Honey, our six month Labrador Pup.
I hope you enjoyed this little virtual walk around the garden!
A moment to appreciate,
The Poppy by the garden gate,
Not planted there by human hand,
But blown in at the wind's command,
As bright and cheerful as can be,
What joyful serendipity!
EVERYDAY ENCOUNTERS 