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David

Autumn fruit: gingko

Autumn fruit: gingko

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.

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David

Autumn colour: Perton lake and island

Autumn colour: Perton lake and island

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.

Autumn colour: Perton lake and island
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David

Twelve days of Christmas: Three Kings, Cologne

Twelve days of Christmas: Three Kings, Cologne

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.

Twelve days of Christmas: Three Kings, Cologne
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David

Twelve days of Christmas: Three Kings, Shrewsbury

Twelve days of Christmas: Three Kings, Shrewsbury

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.

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David

Twelve days of Christmas: wood carvings, Guildhall, Coventry

Twelve days of Christmas: wood carvings, Guildhall, Coventry

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

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David

Twelve days of Christmas: squirrel

Twelve days of Christmas: squirrel

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