Autumn

Autumn is approaching,
despite the glorious weather this Friday 7 September.

Setting out from Horsted Keynes northwards, then across a bit of the Sussex Border path before heading south east to Highbrook, we had no idea what Autumn spectacles were to be revealed. In fact we found a pair of prescription spectacles in a field, which are now at Haywards Heath police Station, if you have lost them. Prior to arriving at this village, there was such a commotion from what sounded like a family of buzzards, that I could only assume (but could not see) that there was a nest with fledgling birds nearby.

Anyway, it was the churchyard which had what I believe might be a lot of Autumn Lady's Tresses orchids.

David Lang, in his book "Wild orchids of Sussex" ISBN 0-9533493-3-0 describes something very similar to what we saw. I was confused by the absence of leaves though. Is this a saprophytic plant? No. Lang comments that it flowers mid August to late September .....on chalk Downs, lawns and cemeteries .... and the leaves are gone by flowering time.

Click on any of the pictures to expand.

A really beautiful sight.
And a very pleasant stroll back to Horsted Keynes on a very warm afternoon.