A suitable case for treatment

7.45 a.m. 17 September. Anyone watching me as I climbed up to the garden on the Friday morning when these pictures were taken would have been fully justified in thinking I was indeed a suitable case as I flailed my arms before me in Spotty Dog fashion. Hardy gardeners among you will know, of course, that the reason behind this bizarre behaviour is the time of year and the propensity for spiders of all shapes and sizes to spin their tiny, almost invisible stands from one side of every singe pathway to the other. As well as between plants, in open doorways, from window frames ... I could go on. My arms therefore clear the way ahead avoiding that slightly worrying feeling of being caught fly-like in a web. There's always the one that I forget though, usually a very fine and intricate one spun between tomato plant leaves that gets me as I bend for that oh so enticing last little fruit. Or the ones that appear (or not!) across the open greenhouse door - just when I stop being Spotty Dog and instead arm myself with a watering can, it gets me right on the newly shampooed hair. This time lasts only for a short while and even this morning, chilly and damp as it was, there was little need for any flailing as I climbed to the top garden. Instead the spiders all seemed to have decamped to the summerhouse to find shelter amongst the floor cushions. So it was out with the broom and a brisk brushing sorted that out, at least for this morning.

Asters are the predominant blooms in the garden at the moment; they are the late summer/autumn equivalent of forget-me-knots for us, carpeting large areas as they do. I can happily uproot any that are in the wrong place, safe in the knowledge that more will spring up elsewhere. The star of the flower bed however has to be the Kaffir Lily, now blooming in striking Barbie pink - for which you'll have to take my word since I didn't have my camera with me and it's now raining so I don't intend to return aloft today! I'm very pleased too to discover that the broccoli plants I've kind of nurtured (or was it planted and then totally left to their own devices?) are, at last, beginning to actually sprout little purple bits. I will let you know if we get enough to eat - would make a nice change from tomatoes and courgettes.

Twilight intensity

There's a very calm atmosphere in the garden this evening and the low light level only serves to intensify the colours of certain flowers such as the apricot/orange rose that's currently in flower in the little garden near the house, and the cosmos that are now in full bloom in a variety of shades of pink. My nicotiana, that were supposed to all be lime green, have turned out to be a selection of muted shades including burgundy and pink but even they seem more colourful at this time of the evening. In general the garden is very lush, a bit damp and a little overgrown or overblown at the moment so I do need to pay it some attention soon. A few weeks of visitors, grandchildren and various other commitments have meant little work in the garden but we did cut the grass the other day, and that instantly improves things. With the michaelmas daisies and sedums in full bloom autumn is definitely on its way and I shall soon be putting into effect all those ideas currently simmering away in my head. A bit of moving about, potting on, taking of cuttings and some new bulbs are all in the offing - just need the energy to get going!

The local wildlife, mostly squirrels, are currently enjoying our sunflowers of which only one remains totally intact, and have already started to attack the sweet chestnuts many of which were blown down in recent winds. The telltale empty husks adorn the steps up to the top level. Nearby is my chocolate flower, something I plant each year with varying success. This year's plant has done well and I will repeat its position next year - I haven't yet managed to keep one for a second season. I have also today been given some echium seeds, together with comprehensive instructions as to how to plant and grow them on. Given that they came from a very special source, I must give them close attention to ensure success. It is hoped they will be popping up all over the village - hmm that's a lot of responsibility.