I was hoping for an Indian Summer, like we had last year, to get out into the garden, but that wasn’t to be. It has been a mixed up month here weatherwise; one day sunny and sparkly the next misty and grey. And wet. We have lit the woodburning stove on three occasions as it has been quite nippy in the evenings. The autumn equinox has been and gone (22nd) and every day the night grows longer than the day. Sunset is now at 19:10 and I miss those extra two hours we had not so long ago. There’s not a lot of signs of autumn yet down here, some slight tinges of colour changes in the trees, but not much else although my Virginia Creeper is deepening every day and the Goat Willows in the back have pretty much lost all their leaves. They just go brown and drop off, not very pretty at all, but removing them might be difficult.
I have yet to get to the nursery and buy some perennials for the ‘woodland’ border. Having just chopped down the summer flowering plants I can see lots of gaps that need filling. Bulbs need to be ordered too and planted next month. But with family visits life has been rather too hectic to get around to the chores this month.
Raised / vegetable beds: I have cut my losses here, beans did not materialise and nor did the courgette plants – well they are continuing to grow, but far too late for any flowers and fruit to emerge so they will be heading to the compost heap shortly along with the sweet peas. Now those did bring me lots of pleasure so I shall grow them again next year, but I might just sow white ones in my new white bed. The blackberries have all but finished and I have cut this years flowering/fruiting stems down now, but my grandsons did enjoy eating a few of the last berries. Soon I shall have to remove the nasturtiums and their fallen seeds otherwise I shall have an invasion next summer.
Sunny Side: I haven’t done anything here this month, other than dead-heading the osteospermum and arctosis, I have simply enjoyed looking at it and seeing the wild flowers flowering. The packet of seeds cost me about £4 and has been great value. I am hoping some of the flowers will self-seed so I get some freebies next year.
The Japanese Anemones are still going strong as are the fuchsias and penstemons. And my asters that I bought a few years ago from the delightful Picton Garden in Worcestershire have begun flowering. I suppose I should actually take them out of their container now and plant them in the garden. I can see this lawn shrinking even further.
I have a white hydrangea that I need to try and get into the back garden as I am going to replant it in my white bed. Likewise a hosta. It gets shredded to pieces in the courtyard and although I know it will be attacked in the garden, it may stand more chance of defending itself if planted in the ground. If not it might have to go. I intend to buy some half barrels this autumn for the courtyard to plant a couple of fragrant Daphne plants along with some spring bulbs. This area is difficult because it never really gets any direct sun and the wind can swirl around the courtyard. I confess it has been rather neglected whilst I have concentrated on the garden, but I have rather a nice granite ledge which would look lovely with a lot more pots and flowers on it. During the early summer the wall is covered in pale pink roses.
I shall leave you with a photo of my bamboo. No idea what kind, but it does seem to form runners. We dug this up from the back of the garden when the new raised beds were formed, and replanted the decent pieces just inside the gate to try and create a wind break for the raised beds. It seems to be thickening up nicely now. Looking back at the photos I realise that the garden is still pretty colourful even now, but I do have plans to plant a few Nerines and maybe some Autumn Crocuses for next year. Now where did I put those catalogues? 🙂
Cornwall in Colours 
Looks like you really have green fingers, Jude. What a gorgeous array of colour. 🙂
I’m lucky with propagating plants, but my seed sowing has been a dismal failure this year other than the bee/butterfly packet. I think I shall stick to established plants in future as they seem to manage to withstand the S&S attacks (slugs and snails).
Your garden still looks beautiful. Still lots of flowers and colours. I don’t think we’re going to get much autumn this year. Everything seems to be going directly to brown 😦
At least you had a burst of summer! I’m still waiting for that heatwave… Decidedly cooler today.
Thank god for that burst otherwise I’d be feeling a lot of doom-and-gloom right now.
Ah, so Virginia creeper has crept to Cornwall. None of the ones I’ve seen here in central Texas have begun turning colors yet. That doesn’t typically happen in this warm climate till November.
The origins of the phrase “Indian summer” are uncertain:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Indian+summer
I have never come across the term ‘All hallows summer’ in England. We always use Indian summer and usually associate it with warm weather in September and possibly early October.
The phrase seems to be archaic, which would account for why you’ve never come across it:
https://tinyurl.com/ybp3d8ns
I absolutely love your little piece of paradise – so much colour and texture and beauty 🙂
Lovely review of your garden. Still lots of colour considering.
Some of these plants will still be flowering at Christmas, but I will crop them as the flowers just get smaller and smaller.
I’ve done the same with annuals like petunias and managed to get another showing. I wish I could walk through your beautiful garden.
It wouldn’t take you long Robyn, it is very small 🙂
Good things come in small sizes – to paraphrase.
Ahh! And here we see the Virginia at her best.