Nature Walks with My Pixel: September’s Colourful Hangover
So, here we are in September, and while I fully expected the woods to start getting their autumnal gloom on, nature’s decided to keep the party going a little longer. My dog walks, which started back in January with me just intending to get some fresh air, have now turned into full-blown nature photography sessions—armed with nothing but my Google Pixel and an overly curious dog. And let me tell you, September has been unexpectedly bright.
You’d think the leaves would be turning all shades of “Instagrammable autumn” by now, but nope. The trees are still mostly green, with just the odd hint of gold like they’re teasing us. Meanwhile, the red clover and common ragwort are showing no signs of slowing down—almost like they’ve hit the botanical equivalent of a second wind. Seriously, it’s as if they’re shouting, “Summer’s not over until we say it’s over!”
And then, there are the brambles. Oh, the brambles. It’s September, people, and these bushes don’t seem to know what season they’re in. On one branch, you’ve got delicate white blossoms still pretending it’s July, and on the next, ripe blackberries ready to be eaten—if the dog doesn’t beat me to them, that is. Then, just for fun, you’ll spot a dried-up old fruit head hanging there like it’s already auditioning for Halloween. It’s like the entire life cycle of the bramble on one bush. Very confusing, but I’m here for it.
The usual suspects are still popping up everywhere too—cow parsley seed heads, which look a bit like nature’s attempt at modern art, ribwort plantain doing its “look at me” thing, and even a sneaky toadstool sighting. My first of the year, actually. I spotted a common earthball tucked away in the grass, looking like it belonged in a fairytale, or at least in one of those really moody autumn shots I can’t wait to take once the weather cooperates.
And speaking of the weather, what is going on? I was hoping for crisp, dry autumn days, but no. We seem to have gone straight into the muddy season. Everything is wet. The dogs are thrilled, of course, turning every walk into a full-body mud spa, but I’m over here just trying not to face-plant into a puddle while taking photos. There’s mud everywhere—on my boots, my clothes, probably in places I won’t discover until much later. I mean, I love the outdoors, but I’d rather not have to wash it off everything I own every time I come back.
So, September’s been full of surprises—way more colour than I expected and a lot more mud than I’d like. But that’s nature for you, keeping things interesting. Despite the soggy conditions, there’s still so much to see out there. Between the stubborn late blooms, the cheeky brambles, and the early signs of autumn creeping in, it’s been a month worth capturing. Here’s hoping October brings fewer puddles and more of that classic autumn magic. Until then, I’ll be out there, dodging mud splashes and snapping away at whatever nature decides to throw my way!