It’s a while since I meandered round the garden on a Monday, mainly because the weather hasn’t been brilliant for photos – or gardening, if you’re a fair weather gardener like me. I took these photos at the weekend just before the light started to fall.

There’s still a fair bit of colour in the garden, and of course the autumn shades are starting to appear. There’s a few flowers around and the roses are trying to put their last few blooms out. There’s an awful lot of gardening to do at the moment but I’ve been putting it off a bit as I actually quite like seeing the garden in the gradual decay of autumn and winter.

I’ve a lovely clump of nerines in flower at the moment, they came from my mum’s nextdoor neighbour last year. I wasn’t sure they were going to flower as there was no sign of life all summer, then in a matter of a couple of weeks a few leaves appeared and the flower buds. It’s surprising how such a delicate looking flower survives the autumn weather.

I’m really pleased with my autumn bed. This is where the chickens used to be. Most of it was only planted this spring, there’s lots of colour and interest with both flowers and foliage.

It makes a nice continuation from the Amber & Amethyst garden below, though my day lilly in the foreground is clearly ready for a tidy up!!

The pots are still looking reasonable, the creamy hydrangea which has been beautiful since I bought it in June is just starting to go over, the fuchsia and the lamium pot next to it need re-positioning – they were pulled out when the little boy nextdoor was trying to retrieve a football.

In the spring I also moved an arch so the clematis montana I’d planted last year would have something to climb over. Whenever I walk the dogs I tuck another piece along thge arch, it’s covering it nicely. I’m hoping in time it will also creep either side of the fence.

I’m hoping to do a bit of tidying up this week, or at least make a start, most of the foliage can go in the compost bin. We’re thinking of buying a hot composter for each other for a joint Christmas present (I know, we buy each other such sexy presents, last year he got a pair of wellies amongst other things – well he needed a new pair 🙂 ) If anyone has any experience of hot composters I’d be interested to hear.