Harvest Festival - 24

I'm not a fan of Hallowe'en, but I do rather enjoy the pumpkin lanterns! On Sunday we shall be celebrating the glory of the saints in light - all very different to this scary looking image!

Today many children will be attending the final day of the harvest celebrations at Wisley - pumpkin carving workshops! We must make sure that we Catholics don't get a reputation for being killjoys - it can all be harmless fun - it is just a pity that some youngsters (and adults) take things too far.

By the way, I know that this particular pumpkin was carved by someone who is a sinner through and through - you guessed it - the Deacon of Ham! Well, that's my chances of ever getting a red hat ruined, particularly as I note that 'someone' in Rome visited my blog earlier today.

Harvest Festival - 23

Here we have a final shot of the main building at RHS Wisley - I really like those chimneys! The harvest celebrations were particularly splendid this year - which came as quite a surprise, as the summer had been a very disappointing one.

We shall be celebrating another Harvest Festival in church this coming Sunday - All Saints' Day.

Harvest Festival - 22

Although green is my favourite colour, I really admire the autumn colours of many trees at the fall. Here is a splendid specimen pictured in the bright afternoon sunshine at Wisley.

Harvest Festival - 21

Here we have a splendid dahlia bloom which I photographed at RHS Wisley.



I am very fond of these autumn blooms. The dahlias looked full of life - but they will be rapidly destroyed by the first frost of the year - which is forecast for tomorrow night. This should serve as a reminder to us all; we should always be ready to meet our Maker.



Today we remember St Simon and St Jude. May their prayers help us to join them in heaven. Happy Feast!

Harvest Festival - 20

OK - I know you cannot eat them, but..



I saw these lovely chrysanthemums at the harvest celebrations at Wisley. They were almost perfect blooms. I shall post some photos of the dahlias tomorrow.

Harvest Festival - 19

Not everything grown at RHS Wisley is perfect - it is good to know that they have problems with some of their crops - just like the rest of us!



These tomato plants produced a bumper crop this year - though some of the fruits were destined for use in pickles rather than salads. Although the runner bean plants look healthy enough, I was told that they produced a rather disappointing crop this year.



When Jesus looks down on his Church today, I wonder how pleased he is with the fruits that we bear?

Happy Sunday!

Harvest Festival - 18

Here we see some prize-winning parsnips and leaks at the autumn show.