It now feels like a proper autumn. Apples, misty mornings and cobwebs like strings of pearls glistening as the bright sun touches them.

“Can you put my garden to bed?” I am being asked. No- many of the gardens here in South Shropshire seem to be behaving like petulant children and are refusing to go to bed yet.
Bees are still busy visiting late flowers, Nerines are making a loud and exotic shout and the Penstemons are still looking strong and fresh.

So between deadheading roses and working on the drawing board I shall continue filling black bags and leaf bins as the leaves drift down in slow showers of golds and reds.

Leaf mould must be my favourite compost. After a year or more, depending on the leaf, the result is a dark, rich compost, which in my opinion is far superior to any bag of garden centre mulch. There are generally no weed seeds and best of all - it’s free.