A red squirrel pauses on a mossy wall, holding a small pine cone between its front paws. Its orange coat, pointed ears and high curled tail stand out against the deep green surface. Fine fur and tiny claws give the alert animal detail without separating it from the woodland around it.

The rough stone wall continues into the distance beside copper leaves and fern fronds. Narrow shafts of sunlight pass through the mist, catching moisture on the moss and softening the trees farther back. The low view makes the wall a route through the scene, with the squirrel providing a small lively focus within the autumn garden.