Dahlias float in a stone trough at the foot of a quiet autumn garden. Burgundy, magenta, pale pink and creamy blooms lie across dark water, their different petal shapes reflected between open patches of sky. The rough stone rim is mottled with moss, giving the flower display a solid, weathered frame.

A wicker basket and wooden-handled garden shears rest nearby after cutting. Behind the trough, shallow steps climb between fading flower beds toward a timber gate in the brick wall. Damp surfaces and subdued light suggest a recent shower, while the remaining blossoms bring color to the garden as the season turns.