David

There’s a row of gingko trees planted along the side of the Compton Road opposite the former Eye Hospital. All but one of these trees is male, so flowers in the spring but no fruit in the autumn.

Just the one female tree, near the middle of the row. When I passed, most of the fruit had fallen from the tree, so these shots show some on the ground, among the fallen leaves.

The larger of the two lakes at Perton, the island in the middle still with a few leaves left on the trees when these pictures were taken in late November.

The supposed remains of all three of the Kings / Magi / wise men are the most treasured relics in Cologne Cathedral. The relics themselves are in a massive gold chest, studded with precious gems, all behind stout iron bat the back of the main altar.

The cathedral treasury has more rich ornamentation with depictions of the adoration.

Epiphany, assigned as the date of the visit of the supposed Three Kings (or the Magi) to the baby Jesus. Referenced in this year’s Christmas decorations of a Shrewsbury herbalist.

Presumably they didn’t want to find any herb with “gold” in the name. Around the time of the switch from BC to AD, cinnamon was an extreme luxury spice, perhaps getting on for literally worth its weight in gold.

Elaborate low relief carvings in the rich wood panelling of the great hall in the medieval Guildhall, Coventry.

Squirrel contemplating a Christmas tree, weathervane. This was on the cathedral / imperial chapel at Aachen.