November Garden Notes

From my notebook on nature and the garden

Autumn leaves, rudbeckia sahara hitra, hips and haws

Only the rudbeckia seem to have survived this November, hanging on while the other flowers have faded, determined to finally have their moment after I planted them out far too late for them to really get started. They’re a little tattered, their petals battered by November winds and rain, but they’re still standing. Even after the snow their stems are still proudly straight and tall.

This November has been gloomy, heavy grey skies presiding over most of it, with just a scant scattering of those gloriously golden autumn days that I love so much. The leaves have been beautiful though, golds, coppers and bronzes shining out against the grey, catching in the brief spells of sunlight, glowing beautifully on the dark days.

Winds have whipped in from the west and north across the fields, arriving every few days to tug the leaves from the trees. They’ve whirled around the garden on the air currents, twisting and spinning to the ground. Now they are gathering on the terrace, crowding on the old granite steps and huddling in corners, like dancers after a party, limp with effort, ready for the end.