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October’s Nature Walk
This October, my dog walks have been more like little adventures than quick strolls. With my Google Pixel in hand, I have been taking photos of anything that looks interesting or unusual. I thought I knew a lot about mushrooms as a kid, but now I realise I remember very little. Some of the toadstools I found might be edible, magical, or maybe part of a fairy tale.
Lately, I have seen many more fungi appearing everywhere. Clusters of what I think are wax caps cover the ground like colourful autumn decorations. On fallen logs and wood, I found other types of toadstools, possibly inkcaps. I didn’t touch them to avoid disturbing nature. Instead, I photographed them carefully from a distance. Sometimes I had to gently move my dogs away so they wouldn’t step on anything.
The leaves are changing colours too. Sycamore leaves have turned bright red and gold. While my dogs prefer sniffing over looking at leaves, I have been captivated by the colours and shapes around me. I saw an oak leaf breaking down so much that its veins looked like delicate lace. I crouched down and zoomed in to capture this detail. What some people see as a dying leaf, I see as beautiful autumn art.
The stone walls nearby are like tiny gardens. Maidenhair spleenwort grows between the rocks. Dalmatian bellflowers add purple spots of colour. These flowers seem like friendly neighbours, happily blending into the scenery.
This October has been full of surprises and beauty on my walks. While my dogs might think I’m a little strange taking photos of leaves and fungi, I believe they enjoy the extra time outside. It’s amazing how much life and colour can fit into a short walk close to home.