Today is the 1st August - high summer.  But out walking in my usual haunts it feels like the end of summer already.  In March we has snow and ice and a delayed spring.  Now, and after two months with blue skies and barely any rain until last weekend, it feels like we have crammed two seasons into just four months.  

Everything has come into seed or fruit.  Blackberries are ripe (and very small) in July and the elderberries are already ripened and being gorged on by birds.  Summer is fading fast and looking as etherial as this seedhead.