The Autumn Heather.

Every time that the Autumn Heather starts to bloom, I know without a doubt that fall has arrived. I love this sturdy, beautiful shrub that grows wild all over Scandinavia in extreme abundance.

It exists as the Spring Heather, the Summer Heather and eventually the Autumn Heather and can be found in dry, sandy areas, close to the coast line. It is very common in the rocky, barren areas of the Scandinavian archipelagos, where it grows directly on the stone, where nothing else will gain hold.
I recall the beauty of its wild flowers, whenever I visited my aunts family in their summer house in western Sweden. Located in the Gothenburg Archipelago, that consists of hundreds of rocky island, which are almost completely devoid of trees, the surrounding nature displays incredible profusion of this lovely plant.

We used to pick the wild flowers, which would bloom in late summer all through into the end of October. The purple bouquet would be used as decoration, lasting for weeks and eventually months, as it would keep its colour upon drying.

Below yet again an update on my birch tree. Unfortunately, the pictures do not do the visible change any justice. I usually take these from my kitchen window, but in close proximity of this magnificent tree, many golden leaves can now be observed. Still, if you look closely, the change seems to be clearly visible on the surrounding plants, trees and bushes.