October 2012 Notes

by David Tidmarsh - 12:28 on 21 October 2012

 Nature Notes

Autumn has now stamped its mark on the seasons, cold frosty mornings and if you are lucky bright sunshine through the day.
The leaves are now in their most colourful mode even though it will be short lived, a strange expression for a terminal decline in growth, but on a nice sunny day brings joy to the eyes.
You can see how growth has suddenly stopped or is very slow now that the temperatures have dropped. One in particular is the Russian Vine or mile a minute plant, every morning when it is my turn to walk the dog it was a constant effort to snap lengths off this plant to enable my passage along the footpath without getting tangled up, and other walkers as well. It has now stopped growing, I am pleased to say.
One plant in particular that has fantastic Autumn colour is the Virginia Creeper, the one I have growing over my pergola was given to me by my dad, in Autumn it turns to vibrant red leaves on stems that intertwine amongst the evergreen Ivy, it gives me great joy and always reminds me of my Dad.
I have a couple of Hosta plants in the garden, these did well against slug damage and now  the leaves have just suddenly changed to a bright yellow, seems like over night, all due to the frosts that we are having lately.
The hedges have had their last cut for the season, they will be ticking over till the new growth in Spring.
Just finished clearing away the cherry tomatoes in the greenhouse that June has been looking after through the summer, they did ok but not fantastic, sometimes we wonder if it is worth the bother of growing tomatoes, as I think the ones we buy in the shops are just as nice if not nicer.
I remember reading that grass stops growing when the temperature drops below 4 degrees Celsius, a good time to get the cutter cleaned and oiled for storage.
I noticed a late flowering Honeysuckle today in a hedgerow, looking unconcerned with the cold mornings, there was obviously enough sunshine to bring it out in flower for a brief show.
Early morning mists over Herrington Park gave an eerie sight earlier in the week as the hedgerows seemed to separate the mists for a more dramatic effect. When does mists become fog? Or is it the same? I know I hate driving in fog, more than snow, it  must be feeling of not being in control of your own environment, I noticed today one advantage of early morning mists apart from being the start of a sunny day is that you can spot the spiders webs before you walk into them!
It would be nice to stop in bed till the sun burns off the early morning mists but life is too short as it is, we will not dwell on bad weather let us enjoy the short sunny Autumn days whilst we wait for the return of Spring.
Ken

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