Cherry and artichoke oak galls, a great delight found on a runty little oak growing on the site of an old arsenic works. I check this tree several times a year as it never fails to deliver interesting galls!
We are back in West Sussex having “ flown south” earlier this week - and it feels so different here! So much warmer and sunnier - and later dusk, so it’s confusing my seasonal senses a bit! Plus, we are off to the Dordogne region of France with family for a week tomorrow, so I’ll be even more confused! Anyway - what I’ve noticed ! The leaves turning brown and dropping off the gorgeous cherry tree out in our courtyard / boule pitch front garden......as Anne says, how calm and peaceful it all feels here, with shorn fields, beaches emptier and everywhere quieter now school is back .....and how verdant and still blooming the back garden is here, roses especially having a final flourish. We also brought several trugs full of apples and green tomatoes back from Northumberland so they are set at the front door in full sun, slowly ripening and will be gradually used ....I was t going to waste them!
You are a much better plant carer than me Lia ! My plants are still all indoors, probably not doing well in my absence. I am still in Vietnam so still feeling my way to new seasonal things here. One thing is the huge brown dragonflies that seem to be out and about, even by the sea - they are of course followed by swifts who I am assuming they make a crunchy snack for. Second, bowls of fresh Calamansi (which are like tiny limes) in dark green tubs in the food markets of Hoi An. They make good juice in the muggy weather - zesty and sharp. And finally, Royal poinciana trees with their flame coloured blooms in delicate fronded leaf, almost lighting our way to the imperial citadel of Hue in a long avenue.
Moved into our new home, a Sussex cottage, and the pear trees are laden with fruit. Robins in fine voice. Bats frantically feeding up, and going to roost under the garage rooftiles as I drink my first morning tea.
Harvesting and preserving this week - gathering a glut of damsons and plums, freezing, bottling and making jam. Drying borlotti beans, making confit tomatoes and ratatouille. Still eating French and runner beans, chard, beetroot, courgettes and tomatoes.
The roses are having another show, but the biggest splash is feathery clouds of cosmos, pink and white, up to my shoulders.
I’m hearing more of the blackbirds at dusk and the robins are making their presence felt. They’ll become more visible in the garden as autumn progresses. The light is beautiful and the air feels peaceful and calm this morning.
There's a rowan tree I walk past on my way to work, and in the last week or so I've been stopped in my tracks by how lovely the two or three yellow leaves it's sporting look. I'll have to keep count! Definitely feeling that slight chill in the air... and as usual, my head is in the academic year, so enjoying the energy of welcome week and all the new and returning students about the place!
My September garden is looking much more bedraggled than yours, Lia. (I've been hacking away at my mildewy pumpkin plants.) Keep enjoying the lushness!
Spiders! They have created 'gates' across the entrance to our vegetable patch and I don't have the heart to break the web! Also, finding handfuls of baby snails in the garden, next years food competition!!
I’ve been noticing the chatter of starlings this week - they have made short work of the elderberries and are now on the rowan berries. The jackdaws are enjoying stripping the moss off the garage roof looking for insects too. There also seems to be some early morning crispness in the air too, a freshness of the seasons turning.
I love that line about settling into our Septemberness. It feels so right.
Here in Virginia, the mornings are cooler again. Poplar leaves are changing color and falling. A leaf or two on my elm tree have turned yellow as if to say, "It can't wait any longer. Here we are."
My sons are looking for the first acorns from our oak in the grass.
By the time they are asleep in the evenings, the sky is darkening and my inner introvert sighs with relief.
Cobwebs everywhere! Orion and his winter retinue in the pre-dawn sky. Post heatwave autumnness in the air, leaves changing colour and falling, morning dew and the windows steaming up between the panes (they need replacing!). Oh and flocks of geese in the sky.
Catching the sunrise is one of the bonuses of the darker months!
This week's things: stepped into the garden to hear the really close whoo whooing of a tawny owl, only to witness it then take flight just metres away from my nose! My garden wildlife highlight of the year, and a blessing in suburban Birmingham!
Soggy socks in garden crocs from dewy morning grass.
Nasturtiums scrambling through the vegetable patch.
Loving reading everybody's shifting season notes. X
Cherry and artichoke oak galls, a great delight found on a runty little oak growing on the site of an old arsenic works. I check this tree several times a year as it never fails to deliver interesting galls!
Our Southern Red Oak has so many galls! We love finding them.
I was checking out oak galls last week, fascinating aren’t they.
Absolutely, and definitely a case of the more you look the more you see. I found two more different ones this morning on a very young oak in my garden
We are back in West Sussex having “ flown south” earlier this week - and it feels so different here! So much warmer and sunnier - and later dusk, so it’s confusing my seasonal senses a bit! Plus, we are off to the Dordogne region of France with family for a week tomorrow, so I’ll be even more confused! Anyway - what I’ve noticed ! The leaves turning brown and dropping off the gorgeous cherry tree out in our courtyard / boule pitch front garden......as Anne says, how calm and peaceful it all feels here, with shorn fields, beaches emptier and everywhere quieter now school is back .....and how verdant and still blooming the back garden is here, roses especially having a final flourish. We also brought several trugs full of apples and green tomatoes back from Northumberland so they are set at the front door in full sun, slowly ripening and will be gradually used ....I was t going to waste them!
Last night: a V of geese flying over my garden, honking and heading East (in the moment I thought of how very 'this time of year' it was!)
So lovely to see pictures of your garden, too, Lia - it really is a beautiful jungle! 🌿 I hope your houseplants have enjoyed their holiday!
Thank you, they have!
How wonderful to see the geese .. what a beautiful sight it must be
I hope you get to see some this autumn, too, Kathryn!
You are a much better plant carer than me Lia ! My plants are still all indoors, probably not doing well in my absence. I am still in Vietnam so still feeling my way to new seasonal things here. One thing is the huge brown dragonflies that seem to be out and about, even by the sea - they are of course followed by swifts who I am assuming they make a crunchy snack for. Second, bowls of fresh Calamansi (which are like tiny limes) in dark green tubs in the food markets of Hoi An. They make good juice in the muggy weather - zesty and sharp. And finally, Royal poinciana trees with their flame coloured blooms in delicate fronded leaf, almost lighting our way to the imperial citadel of Hue in a long avenue.
Moved into our new home, a Sussex cottage, and the pear trees are laden with fruit. Robins in fine voice. Bats frantically feeding up, and going to roost under the garage rooftiles as I drink my first morning tea.
Where in Sussex are you Sophie - we are in Lavant near Goodwood.
Very close by; West Dean!
Gosh - how lovely! Wear Dean Gardens was my “place” that I photograph recorded earlier in the year before we went North!
I’m in Chichester!
Adjusting to rising in the dark once again but witnessing some glorious sunrises as a result.
The most vibrant red admiral basking in low September sun on my shed - butterflies are suddenly abundant after a lack all summer?
Cooler days & nights are welcome and mean back to school baking / batch cooking feels right & proper .. ‘squirrelling away ‘ x
Harvesting and preserving this week - gathering a glut of damsons and plums, freezing, bottling and making jam. Drying borlotti beans, making confit tomatoes and ratatouille. Still eating French and runner beans, chard, beetroot, courgettes and tomatoes.
The roses are having another show, but the biggest splash is feathery clouds of cosmos, pink and white, up to my shoulders.
I’m hearing more of the blackbirds at dusk and the robins are making their presence felt. They’ll become more visible in the garden as autumn progresses. The light is beautiful and the air feels peaceful and calm this morning.
There's a rowan tree I walk past on my way to work, and in the last week or so I've been stopped in my tracks by how lovely the two or three yellow leaves it's sporting look. I'll have to keep count! Definitely feeling that slight chill in the air... and as usual, my head is in the academic year, so enjoying the energy of welcome week and all the new and returning students about the place!
My September garden is looking much more bedraggled than yours, Lia. (I've been hacking away at my mildewy pumpkin plants.) Keep enjoying the lushness!
Spiders! They have created 'gates' across the entrance to our vegetable patch and I don't have the heart to break the web! Also, finding handfuls of baby snails in the garden, next years food competition!!
I’ve been noticing the chatter of starlings this week - they have made short work of the elderberries and are now on the rowan berries. The jackdaws are enjoying stripping the moss off the garage roof looking for insects too. There also seems to be some early morning crispness in the air too, a freshness of the seasons turning.
I love that line about settling into our Septemberness. It feels so right.
Here in Virginia, the mornings are cooler again. Poplar leaves are changing color and falling. A leaf or two on my elm tree have turned yellow as if to say, "It can't wait any longer. Here we are."
My sons are looking for the first acorns from our oak in the grass.
By the time they are asleep in the evenings, the sky is darkening and my inner introvert sighs with relief.
'Inner introvert sighs with relief', yes!
Yes, that feeling of relief and comfort. Like being gently wrapped up. Love it.
Exactly, Anne.❤️
Cobwebs everywhere! Orion and his winter retinue in the pre-dawn sky. Post heatwave autumnness in the air, leaves changing colour and falling, morning dew and the windows steaming up between the panes (they need replacing!). Oh and flocks of geese in the sky.
I love seeing Orion even though his appearance means winter 🌌
Leaves creeping over a wall turning red. Getting a second crop of strawberries in this weird warm September.
Catching the sunrise is one of the bonuses of the darker months!
This week's things: stepped into the garden to hear the really close whoo whooing of a tawny owl, only to witness it then take flight just metres away from my nose! My garden wildlife highlight of the year, and a blessing in suburban Birmingham!
Soggy socks in garden crocs from dewy morning grass.
Nasturtiums scrambling through the vegetable patch.
Loving reading everybody's shifting season notes. X
Had to think for a minute to create the socs and crocs image, not 🐊in 🧦
Wowsers Wendy! That’s a tale to tell! How amazing - and precious 🥰
Lucky you seeing the owl! I hear them every evening, sounding so close but never manage to catch even a glimpse....
Noticing it being a bit darker every day at the time we wake up.
As for leave turning: the grape, the beach hedge, but mostly the plain trees. One gust of wind and their leaves fly off!