Seasons

You hardly notice the seasons changing then it suddenly hits you in the face. During the harshest part of winter you start to think it will never be summer again, but in spite of your pessimism it arrives and you hardly notice.

This photo of the mulberry tree in my garden was taken in August during one of the harshest winters we've had for a very long time.

The same tree, photo taken about six weeks after the one above. What looked almost like a dead tree is now covered with a lush canopy of leaves. Since the beginning of October every branch and twig on this tree is just thick with berries, some green, some pale red, almost translucent, and still other a deep purple as they have ripened.

Every bird in the neighbourhood knows about this tree, each generation passes on the knowledge. All day long the birds hop from branch to branch eating while the eating is good. Fruit eaters, seed eaters, insect eaters, (weaver birds, red bishops, glossy starlings, Indian mynahs, too many to mention), all take part in the feast which will last until November.