A Taste of Things to Come............

Sissinghurst

.............with these chilly mornings and evenings, reminding us that sadly, summer is on its way out and Autumn is just around the corner.

As much as I love the change of seasons, I'm not yet ready for Autumn. 

I still yearn for a few more weeks of warm, balmy days, wearing sandals and dresses, without the dark and stormy skies and the threat of rain, and without the cool winds which, yesterday evening when walking the dog, were so sharp that I could almost have done with a warm hat. In August.

At least these cooler days are perfect for gardening. I have neglected our garden this year - my excuses have been its either too wet, too hot, not at home, or just simply not in the mood. 

But now its cooled down a bit I have at last found my gardening mojo - just a tad too late for summer plants but ideal for weeding and clearing borders, and adding a few new plants for late summer and early Autumn. 

So today that's what I've done - weeded and cleared borders, and whilst I was in the garden I had company in the form of this dragonfly, which seemed to like perching on the sundial. It kept flying off then returning to the same place.

Now that I've cleared some of the borders, I need to put in a few new late summer /early autumn flowering plants. 

On our walk this evening we picked up a few from a plant stall set down a quiet country lane outside someones house, which I'd spotted earlier today on the morning walk. 

We went armed with cash and carrier bags and came back with these three lovely beauties for a fiver.

Two Rudbekias - I think?

Aren't they gorgeous?

And the most beautiful dark orange dahlia (or is this a chrysanthemeum? The flower says dahlia to me but the foliage more chrysanthemum like?).

We also picked a few windfall cooking apples from the orchards. 

The farmers are starting to get the crates ready in some of the orchards, so it won't be long before they pick some of the varieties.

The last few evenings we've been picking more blackberries too, which around here in Kent have been ready for weeks - we spotted our first ripe blackberries back at the end of July.

. These photos with the first few ripe ones were taken on the 30th July - much earlier than last year. 

So we've been picking them on and off throughout August. 

Perfect to go with the apples. 

Just love blackberry and apple crumble!

I still have a Sissinghurst post to do, following on from my last post.

Sissinghurst

But I'll share a couple more photos now as this is what made me think of buying those particular plants today - this lovely display in one of the gardens at Sissinghurst, my favourite from this visit - the hot borders, all reds, yellows and oranges - they were stunning.

Sissinghurst

Sissinghurst

More next post!