Hidden Treasure

Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places

Why don’t we ask each other “What’s your favourite…” anymore? It could be dinosaur, colour, or tree but in this case, I was asked about my most cherished season which is beyond doubt Autumn — or Fall as you on the west side of the pond call it. (By the way Spinosaurus, Green, and Silver Birch are the others!). Autumn speaks to the depths of my soul, and my first novel is set in a land that is always this time of year. One of the things that brings joy to me is all the different Fungi that appear, some large and vibrant, others small and delicate. Sharing some of my finds on my Instagram is exciting for me at least!

There is a discipline that is needed when walking through the woods at any time of year, to not just stride from one side to the other. Using all the senses to slow down and observe. Looking all around to get an intuition that that particular spot could be productive. This season — when it looks like everything is dying — can actually be the most full of life.

Behind a tree stump.

Over that hillock.

Out of that decaying matter.

Here it is that I might find little ballet dancers twirling amongst death.

Yellow tubules could be entozoon coming above ground in curiosity.

A shy ruby gem hiding behind the ferns, afraid of what the world will make of her!

Unlike this proud angel in the spotlight of the canopy.

Or this one that would not be out of place on the seafloor or the rock pool, yet here discovered in the dank of the woodlands.

I have been pondering in recent years about my place in the world but every time I go out in nature it reminds me that I am ok. It is alright just to be. I remember my grandfather scolding me for staring into the large pond in his garden when I was about ten years old. I was fascinated by the dance of water fleas as well as the tadpoles and other mini beasts.

“You’ll never get anywhere staring in there,” he said. Perhaps he was right. Anywhere I have got to is either of no resonance or importance to me and besides when I put all myself into being what they wanted me to be it all came crashing down anyway. So I remind myself that it isn’t in the great vistas of scenery that I find joy and peace, but in the small things. The tiniest things even.

Observing.

Noticing.

Revelling in the tiny.

All photos by Author. More at https://www.instagram.com/lifewinguk/