Abundance

Back in May the hawthorn was prolific. I do not remember a time when it was so abundant and it was a magnificent sight along the Kennet & Avon canal.

The summer having departed, the abundance of autumn fruit on the trees and in the hedgerows is equally magnificent. Hawthorn blossom has given way to hawthorn berries in profusion. Not only hawthorn but apples, pears, elderberries, blackberries and the horse chestnut trees are laden with conkers! What a pity children do not gather conkers any longer. I remember strings of conkers hardening on the boiler in the hope of producing a champion. I also remember sore knuckles after a conker fight!

These bright red berries twinkle in the sunlight and look stylish when cut and generously displayed indoors in a simple glass vase. They do not, however, last long indoors and will soon start dropping the berries everywhere! But for that short period they look wonderful.