Here, in Late September

I cannot believe that next week ushers in October! Where has the time gone??

This weekend we brought in the last of the harvest. Loads of tomatoes that were never going to ripen up - we are just too far north. If we want ripe tomatoes we need to have a lovely big greenhouse. Next year I am going to plant my tomatoes in containers so that I can follow the sun with them. Maybe then I'll get red tomatoes on the vine.

We also harvested all the sprouts and gave half of them away to visiting friends to enjoy. We still have LOADS left!

The veggie patch has now been put to bed for the winter - everything pulled up, just the strawberry plants to cover with winter fleece or straw. It all looks kind of sad now.

But on a happier gardening note, all my spring bulbs are in! Finally! I actually got my spring bulbs planted in the right month!!!

In one week the Virginia Creeper has turned flaming red and lost about a third of it's lushness...

I can see the wooden fencing through the curtain of leaves now, at it's foot rests the leaf litter. It all smells autumnal - dusty and leafy :)

We are putting cat pellets out every evening now to help our Hedgehogs fatten up for their hibernation.  Each morning the food is gone, all that remains is evidence of our hoggy friends visits - droppings and a neat trail through the dewy grass.

The mini-beasts are feasting on windfall apples, it's quite amazing to see how quickly they get through them! Although I hate slugs - it's kind of interesting to watch them :)

We have also been doing quite a bit of sight seeing with my Mom-in-Law who is out visiting us from South Africa. We have had some lovely sunny days, perfect to visit National Trust properties and feast on tea and cake in their pretty gardens.

Sudbury Hall

I'm loving the gentle light and longer shadows at the moment. This morning my youngest came and stood next to me in the conservatory and said, 'There are more shadows that their were', and she is quite right :)

The cooler temperatures bring to mind a lovely little poem by Emily Dickinson which describes these days so perfectly...

The Morns are Meeker Than They Were

The morns are meeker than they were-

The nuts are getting brown-

The berry's cheek is plumper-

The rose is out of town.

The Maple wears a gayer scarf-

The field as scarlet gown-

Lest I should be old fashioned

I'll put a trinket on.

Blessings to you :)