More sunshine (Coombe Wood) FrIday morning

The colour of these tender banana leaves by the pond caught my attention. While photographing them I heard a horse and rider clopping past and caught a glimpse of them through the trees

Many of the leaves from the fallen willow branch are floating in the pond and the latest winds have blown many pine needles into the pond too.

Sunlight through the big leaves on the vine 

 A tiny fluffy feather caught on a twig attracted my attention to the small crinkly leaves and little blue flowers - I thought these flowers had finished ages ago.

More blue flowers (completely different kind) further along the path.

Daisies scrambling down the bank - these have lasted for such a long time.

Strawberry tree flowers. 

I sat on a bench to eat a croissant I'd brought with me (early Dr's appointment - didn't have time for breakfast). A perfect pine cone was balanced in the gap between two benches.

The gardener has cut back many more of the plants that were blocking the paths among the prairie plants since my last visit. He has left the cuttings on the ground to dry out.

Pink tufty flowers.

Looking closer. 

 And even closer - bees are so fluffy close up.

A long stem runs through the other plants, with bright shiny berries at intervals.

The Japanese anemones are tall and unruly now, spilling across the other plants. 

Some of them sparkled as if glitter had been sprinkled over them.

Another pathway through the prairie planting. It's lovely to be able to follow these paths again and be in among all the flowers.The area covered by the prairie plants isn't very big but I can easily lose myself in there for ages.

The curls in the middle of these yellow flowers create lovely shadows.

I didn't even notice the tiny spider on this one (just below the bees wing tip) while taking photos of this bee.

 Since my visit on Monday the hedges have had a hair cut.

Water drops on a carpet of purple. 

Grass seeds. 

These reddish grasses tumble out like little water falls glittering with water drops. 

Red berries and blue sky. 

 Darkening Callicarpa berries. 

Deep raspberry red flower (Sumach?) 

Looking closer. 

Leaves beginning to change colour.

 Hydrangea flowers fading. 

Slender, fragile looking little fuchsias. 

 Flowers in the herbaceous borders. 

Cosmos buds. 

The lawn between the flower borders was sprinkled with autumn leaves. The grass was wet - I'm not sure that flip flops will be suitable for much longer - my feet were wet and cold.

Now on to the flower beds on the way to the gate

This flower was springing up and down with the weight of the bee.

So many sunflowers on one stem. 

The gardener was by the gate with his wheelbarrow. He had taken out the banana plant that I had photographed at the beginning of my walk and some of the others from the higher flower bed.  He told me that the weather at night was too cold for them now.

Thank you very much for joining me.