Gusty Winds and Random Leaves

As difficult as September was – October proved to be too. Too cold and very wet, with extremely high winds; depositing not only another several thousand dead pine needles from the Stone pine we decided to retain. (I think Philip regretted this decision about 25 or 30 bags ago), but also after a night of severe gusty winds alien leaves that didn’t belong to any plant that we had in the garden, littered the garden and the lawn. Yet despite the cold we were still being annoyed by mosquitoes in the garden.

Several cyclamen (sold every year in the market, none named, just variable seedlings) have returned as well as the white seedlings that came from a white corm of Arthur’s that was possibly 17/18 years old. The hellebores are making new leaves; but I’m waiting a few more days (hopefully mozi free) before I cut the old ones away.

The Stipa is still looking pretty as is Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’, especially on the days when the sky is azure blue.

Rosa ‘Aloha’ is giving random flowers, R. ‘Sympathie’ is making one more bud; but everything else is looking quite sad except the Salvia which this year is more than 6 feet tall. A delight although very untidy, with the most beautiful soft velvety texture and loved by bees and the humming bird moth.

My most wonderful experience this month was a robin that after a lot of squawking outside flew in the open door, very agitated.  After a couple of attempts to catch it and several ‘messages’ left for me on the windowsill it stayed first on Philip’s hand and then on mine. We managed to get some great shots of it close up although it did look as if it'd had a couple of drinks too many. What a privilege.