Looking more like an undulating landscape ready to be conquered by some adventurous explorer, I love this different take on conkers by Sue Kennedy.
There are plenty of other seeds and berries for you to see in a new light on RSPB Images.
The mere mention of the word 'spider' can strike fear into the heart of even the toughest wildlife enthusiast.
It's true, spiders have a bad reputation, but we shouldn't forget that these amazing little creatures are the master craftsmen behind one of nature's most underrated wonders - the spider's web.
Works of art
The crisp, morning frosts of autumn and winter show these beautiful creations off to their best. Ice crystals clinging to the silk strands dance and glisten as the web sways in the breeze, creating a stunning jewelled display.
And it's not just their beauty that is astounding, a spider's web is a magnificent feat of engineering for such a tiny creature.
A spider can create one of these intricate, elegant structures in less than an hour, as this wonderful timelapse footage shows. And just think, it could be happening in your garden right now!
The silk used to spin a web is finer than a human hair, yet five times stronger than steel. Engineers have calculated that a woven cord of spider's silk as thick as a pencil could stop a jet in midair - now that's strong!
Carpets of silk
This spider silk is responsible for a very mysterious and atmospheric sight of autumn. You might have noticed it if you've been walking recently - shimmering carpets of gossamer silk covering shrubs and bushes.
Though it might look like someone has got a little carried away with the Halloween decorations, this peculiar sight is actually the work of millions of baby spiders.
Up, up and away
When it's time for spiderlings to leave their mother, they climb up to high points on plants, point their abdomens skywards, and start producing silk threads.
Some of these threads drift gently downwards and become tangled in bushes, producing the sheets of silk we see. But when there's a breeze, the silk threads act like a sail, lifting the spiderlings high into the sky.
On a calm day they may only travel a few metres, but if there is a strong breeze the spiderlings can drift thousands of feet up into the sky and travel hundreds of miles - a process known as ballooning.
So next time you're out and about, keep your eyes peeled for ballooning babies and wonderful webs - the nicer side to spiders.
I just couldn't resist showing you all this photo of a little owl, by Jeroen Stel. It's great isn't it?!
I can't help thinking that he looks a little the worse for wear after a night out! What do you reckon? Caption ideas please!
You can find more amazing, beautiful and downright silly photos at RSPB Images.
This weekend would be a great time to put up a nestbox.
'What?' I hear you say. 'The breeding season's a good few months away yet!'
That's very true. But the reason I'm suggesting you put up a box in late autumn is because birds will be looking for somewhere snug to spend the night through winter. Small birds are vulnerable to the cold and can use up lots of energy just staying alive when the weather's bad.
We had a lovely email from e-newsletter reader Pat Brooks on just this topic.
She said: 'I have a nestbox with a camera inside. All last winter a great tit slept in it overnight. When spring came he left (it was just a 'winter let,' it seems!) and blue tits nested, but unfortunately didn't lay any eggs.
'Now the weather is getting colder the great tit has returned. It's nice to see him cosily tucked up, looking like a fluffy toffee apple, when the wind and rain is whistling around!'
Some birds don't sleep alone during winter. A record-breaking 61 wrens were seen squashing themselves into a nestbox so they could keep warm together!
We've got tips to help you build your own nestbox, or you can buy them in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours from the RSPB online shop.
Have fun!
Who said clouds have to be bad? Just take a look at the gorgeous clouds and mist in this photo by Mark Sisson, from the RSPB Images photo-library (imagine how beautiful this would look on your wall!)