Friday 30 September 2016

the sweet calm sunshine of September ...

" It was a morning of ground mist, yellow sunshine, and high rifts of blue, white-cloud-dappled sky.  The leaves were still thick on the trees, but de-spangled gossamer threads hung on the bushes and the shrill little cries of unrest of the swallows skimming the green open spaces of the park told of  autumn and change." ~ Flora Thompson


September has been a very productive month for me. I have worked hard in the garden with a feeling of racing against time; although, in truth, there is plenty of time to do everything - I just wanted to get it done while the weather was good, so much more pleasant working outside when it is a little warmer, rather than having to wrap up in coats and boots to get it all done.  I have planted every last bulb that I possess; those I saved from last year; those I bought this year; every piece of ground and every container has been put to use - if I don't get a good display in spring then something has gone seriously wrong.


Gardening for wildlife has had its rewards this last week; we have had visits from badgers (who very kindly left their deposits on the front lawn); a rat decided to gnaw its way through the base of the greenhouse; and a grass snake slithered in to say hello and slithered out again.  The swallows are still with us; although they have been gathering on the wires more frequently, so I sense they will soon be on their way.



Pansies have been planted to give a little colour to the containers over winter - these are called Autumn Fire, appropriately named I thought.


This little chap came down to the pond for a drink - a Willow Warbler; maybe, or a Chiff Chaff - the jury's out on that one.  When it flew off I noticed the underside of its feet were yellow - so pretty.


A juvenile woodpecker visited us too - I do feel so privileged that we have all this wildlife in the garden - we must be doing something right.


The leaves on the trees are still green and show no sign of falling yet, which I guess is due to the warm weather we are still having; although the nights are much chillier and the evenings drawing in much too fast.
 


But we have been compensated for this by beautiful sunrise and sunset.



And so another month has passed; one that I have enjoyed more than I can say; away from the tyranny of technology; I have seriously considered giving up this web space (again); although I feel I should apologise to those of you I haven't visited who have been so kind as to leave comments here - I am a bad, bad blogger.

Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.
~ Elizabeth Lawrence.

Elaine








36 comments:

  1. You have been busy and I applaud your gardening and long countryside walks. I do agree we can spend too much time on the computer and that is the reason I only blog. All the other places/spaces would take up too much of my time. I do love to learn about other countries and their habits/habitats etc. and would sorely miss your blog.

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    1. Thank you dear Donna. Being outdoors, whatever I am doing, is what I love most, as you may have gathered. Now that the garden is squared up I will have time to enjoy other pleasurable exploits and I hope that continuing blogging is one of them.

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  2. I enjoy your wonderful garden in autumn as we are heading into spring and summer. wonderful photos as usual.

    You would be missed if you stopped blogging butI do understand about the time factor. It is a while since I posted.

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    1. Thank you Susan. This year I have a concerted effort to bring more colour into the Autumn garden. I am happy with the results so far. I did notice that you hadn't been posting - hope everything is ok with you.

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  3. Pretty flowers, that gorgeous green meadow, keeping busy in the garden, it all sounds good! The snake and rat...sounds like something from the Chinese calendar. Keeping busy, enjoying nature, that's very important to me and it sounds like you feel the same.

    Thank you for your beautiful pictures and words.

    Jane

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    1. Dear Jane
      Thank you for visiting. We seem to like the same things. I do visit your blog but sometimes feel inhibited to comment as there is so much content 😐

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  4. September has been such a good month; a little too dry maybe, but warm and friendly. It rained here overnight to welcome October, not sure yet how much.

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    1. I like that September has been warm and friendly, my favourite month always. We were supposed to get rain today, so far, no show, but very misty, so I expect it will arrive some time today.

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  5. Perhaps you will have more time to blog during the winter months. I hope you don't disappear.

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    1. Thanks Sue, I do struggle a bit to keep up the momentum of blogging, hopefully I will get it together during the winter.

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  6. Nice sky pictures and the birds on the wire. I feel close to you via your blog so dont give up. We will have to become penpals if you do.

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    1. Dear Rachel
      Thank you - what a kind thing to say - if I don't keep on with this space I would love to be your penpal :)

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  7. The pansies are divine. Ah yes, the tyranny of technology.

    Ms Soup

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    1. They are lovely aren't they, such a humble flower yet very pleasing. Technology and me we don't always get along and I am quite happy to leave it alone sometimes.

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  8. Dear Elaine, beautiful time well spent!
    As to writing blog posts: I'm always in two-minds - love all the bloggers' comments, am forced to look more concentrated - though sometimes (words are my work!) I am doubting too.
    But please stay - it is always a treat to look and read your blog.

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    1. Dear Britta
      Sometimes you just have to buckle down and get on with what needs doing, whether you want to or not - so I did and didn't let anything distract me from the job in hand and I thoroughly enjoyed myself against all the odds, because as I get older the work does tire me out and I keep having to have a day off to recuperate :) Thanks for visiting and keeping me company.

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  9. Lovely pictures of your month of September. I wonder if the swallows are reluctant because of the extra warm days we've been experiencing? I love all the little pansies which will revive again after the winter!

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    1. Thank you Sandra. I expect the swallows are more than a little confused as it has been so mild so far but it won't be long before they fly off to warmer climes - I always miss them and look forward to their return.

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  10. A nice post and lovely pictures. It certainly was a good gardening month one way and another. You sure do get your share of interesting wildlife.
    You're certainly not a bad blogger. Comment and post when you want to, but please don't give up. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty. If only I was quick enough to go and get me camera, I would have loved to get a shot of the snake. Although now I am a little wary of where I go in the garden in case I come face to face with it - not my favourite of creatures, although I am sure it wouldn't hurt me - hope not anyway!

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  11. A lovely post to read and look at.
    That first photo ... the colours in those blooms ... such a joy to see.
    I love your pansies too, I never grow tired of this lovely plant.

    Happy October Wishes

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan. The flowers in the first picture are dahlias, for the first time I left them in the ground over winter expecting to lose them all, but they all came back and have done me proud. Happy October wishes to you too.

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  12. Autumn is a beautiful season for all sorts of reasons but, I do hate clearing up all of the leaves Elaine !!!! A thankless task as, when we've picked up lots of leaves, the next day they are all back again !!!!! I'm not like ' Mrs Bucket ' but, our garden is surrounded by trees whch makes it lovely and private but a pain when Autumn arrives !!
    Wonderful photographs .... I love the birds on the wire. XXXX

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    1. Thanks Jackie. We have a garden hoover to get all the leaves up - but yes, as soon as they are cleared then down they fall again a neverending job~!

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  13. I can only identify a chiff chaff by its song,

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    1. They are both so alike even Dave was a little confused and he's a keen bird watcher.

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  14. There are so many beautiful colours in nature at the moment but it's really noticeable that the nights are drawing in. I love the sky photos, especially the fiery reds. The swallows are gathering here, too.

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    1. That's the one thing about this time of year I don't like, when the nights draw in - everything seems to come to a halt when I'm not quite ready for it to.

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  15. Wow! Such colour. Love the pansies (and love your blog).

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    1. Thank you Freda (I love your blog too) :)

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  16. I always say to myself that in winter I will be a better blogger, but actually I don't know, all the house chores I leave for winter......so, I don't know.
    I'm always glad to be a few days from home without internet, it just sometimes takes to much time, energy. But on the other side I love the communication with people all over the world. I really love your skies and the woodpecker in your garden, nature is wonderful.

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    1. Yes, I do agree Janneke, the one compensation for all the time and effort of blogging, is meeting such kind and interesting people, such as yourself - it really is amazing isn't it that we can all correspond at the touch of a button.

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  17. Don't give it up - I'd miss seeing your world! Taking time away from technology is good for the spirit. I leave my seedheads and dried stalks until spring, so all must do now is gather some of my garden ornaments to store for the winter.

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  18. Please don't stop blogging, I would miss you dreadfully, having said that it is hard to keep up with blogs and post, I always feel behind the game. Just post and comment when you're in the mood!
    I am envious of your badgers and grass snake, we only have three types and it's our adder that's dangerous so your little friend can't harm you. I love that pic of the swallows, you can sense their intensity, that and those wonderful, brooding, dramatic dark clouds are my favourites.xxx

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  19. Dear Elaine your weather Sounds a lot like ours this past September. The days are getting shorter but very little color changes. Your skies are just glorious. So hope you will keep blogging. Always love my visits with you. Hugs!

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  20. You would definitely be missed if you giave up blogging but I can certainly understand the time issue.
    Its been a lovely mellow September hasn't it. It sounds like that you have been really busy in the garden, so nice to do it when its still warm then you can relax when the weather turns. Looking forward to seeing the results of all your bulb planting

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