Autumn

20th September 2018

Photo: Morgan James

Probably my favourite season; especially the start. Lots of lovely things to look forward to....perfumed fruit, amber days, wet dogs, golden stubble, the wood burner at the end of the day and the arrival of the winter Thrushes.

The change of season has been more than welcome this year. It was a savage Summer, the quote “when you're going  through  hell keep  going” seemed appropriate. The garden team kept  going, putting in the effort and hoping that it was enough..... effort and hope. 

Proof that their labours during the tough period of late June into late August were not wasted is apparent in the garden now. Late blooming of many Roses such as ‘Buff Beauty’, ‘Susan William Ellis' ‘Cecille Brunner climbing’ and ‘Prosperity' with most accompanied by pearlescent, fluttering Honesty (Lunaria annua). Scarlet hips of the Eglantine Rose are displayed on thorny bending branches in the Temple Garden.

Sweet Peas are now fading, but close by sooty Dahlias ‘Rip City' and ‘Arabian Night' are accompanied by Salvia ‘Armistadt', bright pink tassels of Love Lies Bleeding and Salvia ‘Jezebel'.

It's an ill wind that blows no good with the productive side of the garden being very successful; exceptional Tomato crops , Pears and Apples planted fourteen years ago with their first proper crop and almost 200kg of ‘Crown Prince' Squash gathered in this week. Francesco's reaction to the news that this superb culinary leviathon of the vegetable garden is heading for his kitchen is similar to mine when I see the first Swallow, the thrill of the changing seasons.

Grape 'Black Hamburg'. Squash (Grey Pumpkin) 'Crown Prince'. Apple on left 'Egremont Russet' & similar sized apple to its right, flushed red is 'Winter Gem'. Large Pear with re-curved stalk is ‘Margeurite Marillat', smaller Pear is 'Williams Bon Chretien'. Yellow Quince on right is 'Vranja'. Small red Crab Apples are a variety called 'John Downie’.