Autumn is approaching and the changing landscape is an indication that
winter isn’t far away. The wild blackberries hang shrivelled on the
branches, leaves are curled and browning on the ground creating a
crisp, crunching carpet beneath my feet.
Any leaves still clinging to the boughs are reds, yellows, rusts and greens giving the final spectacular flourish of colour before the trees will stand stark and skeletal for several months. I walk with my dogs down a lane filled with trees and brambles as hidden amongst the undergrowth the red berries on the plant known as Lords and Ladies glow through the foliage before they darken only to fall to the ground leaving a stained circle of colour on the dark soil before they rot into the earth.Autumn also has a variety of smells depending upon the weather conditions different areas have experienced. I have travelled home along motorways after constant downfalls of rain and smelt distinct odours of mildew and mould seeping from the rotting vegetation in the fields on either side of the roads. Other times, after long dry summers, there are the sweet smells of grass, hay and late roses with their perfume wafting across the darkening autumn evenings and, my favourite smell of log burning fires emitting from chimneys in the countryside as the occupants ward off the first chill of autumn evenings.
This is the season to collect natures treasures, the horse chestnut trees have an abundance of conkers waiting to drop. There is nothing better than to pick open the green prickly outer layer and reveal the burnished, polished nut within. The variety of sizes will need to be sorted and graded to choose what will be the best conkers to thread onto strings and enjoy the age old game of conkers. The aim is to swing your conker at your opponent’s conker and break it, hopefully, sending it crashing to the floor while yours remains intact to play another game. Acorns are also fun to collect – if you can beat the squirrels to them - along with pine cones that come in so many types and shapes you have to decide which you will use in a bowl with acorns and conkers to make an autumn display to place in the hearth, and the cones you will save to spray-paint as Christmas decorations.
The garden is looking quite tired and dry, the annual plants are finishing and it is time to help Mum & Dad to clear out all the old foliage and dig over the soil in preparation for winter. Leaves have to be swept and gathered into piles either to go and rot down into compost or to be placed into the green bin for disposal. It is time to decide if you are going to grow any winter vegetables and whether you would like to pot-up hyacinths for Christmas presents. There are many vegetables to grow including carrots, potatoes, swedes and parsnips. Once you have bought the seeds from your local garden centre and have carefully read the planting instructions you have to decide whether you want to grow your vegetables in the ground or in pots. The hyacinths must be prepared bulbs bought specially, which you then place either singularly or in groups in pots or bowls with the bulbs two thirds beneath the fibre, these you then place in a dark cupboard. When the flowers start to form remove them from the cupboard and you will have beautiful fragrant presents to give to family and friends.
I wish you all happy times in your garden and hope an Indian summer brightens the autumn months ahead and I will see you in the next issue.