DAISY AND KIM'S little SHOP

There is something new to enjoy at Pythouse garden for the winter. A bit of retail therapy along with the coffee and the cake.

Daisy and Kim are taking over part of the Potting Shed for the winter (Thur - Sat) with their collection of - it has to be said - rather gorgeous second hand clothes and accessories for women and children.

Daisy used to be a stylist and Kim was an agent for models and actors - so both have a great eye for what looks good.

They started their business using mainly word of mouth, fitting their work around their young children - now they want to bring it to a wider audience and Pythouse seemed the perfect venue. They won't find me arguing with that.

I am particularly taken with a scarf celebrating the french royal gardeners ...

and with this much pink around I make a mental note to bring my daughter Libby here. She will love it.

I have a feeling she will also love the shoes!

The Ghostly Garden

I am on my way to Pythouse walled garden and decide to call in at Sprout & Flower to see my friend Sarah and to buy some pumpkins.

Sarah - who I have always secretly thought was a white witch - has her broom parked outside the shop in between the pumpkins and the crate of heather.

She tells me business is good. And whilst I am there the shop is buzzing with customers looking for fruit and veg and fresh bread.

At Pythouse garden they are busy getting ready for a Halloween party.

Most of the pumpkins have now been decorated or Matt the chef has got his hands on them for a big batch of pumpkin soup.

There may not be many pumpkins left to buy but there are splashes of autumnal orange all around the garden.

And in the potting shed there are loops of Halloween streamers,

and ghoulish ghostly faces.

Perhaps my favourite though are the Halloween cup-cakes.

Not to be outdone we head home with our pumpkins,

although I have to admit I think 8 year old Elena, who is staying with us, makes a better job of it than I could have done!

Autumn Light

Autumn is definitely here. You can smell it in the sharpness of the late afternoon air.

Nothing compares to October afternoons when the sun starts to dip, shedding a radiant golden light across the garden.

The shadows lengthen

and the earthy browns turn to bronze and gold.

In the garden shop the colours of the gourds and tomatoes take on a luminous light

and outside on the tables the pinks, golds and purples of the floral china appear in startling clarity.

After a wander around the garden I return inside. I have the best of both worlds; the sunshine streaming on to the slate floor at my feet and the wood burning stove warming my back.

Plus time for tea and chat.

Perfect.

Mothers & Daughters

I am running a workshop at Pythouse Walled Garden for mother and daughter - Ursula and Esther.

We are in the cool of the Potting Shed with a breeze coming in the open door, as the sun beats down on the garden outside.

It is time for autumnal colours. But with the weather this warm and wonderful, I have chosen bright seasonal shades - like this Cherry Brandy rose.

Esther is a natural!

On a day like today, everywhere you look the colours seem to sing out.

In the garden the parasols are bright buttons of colour.

With the piles of pumpkins adding an extra glow of glorious orange.When Ursula and Esther finish their workshop they sit in the sunshine with their family sampling Pythouse Garden cakes.

All around I can see mothers and daughters playing in the sunshine. And I do miss my daughters so.

Alex is currently in Australia, so is a long long way away. However I did get to lie in the sun with Libby in Hyde Park earlier in the week.

So I have to add some photos of her to make this mum feel better!

Cider with Rosie ...and Eddie

Or rather, lunch with Merle (Pea & Mint Soup followed by Apple Brownies). It seems at Pythouse they are ready to make the most of their surplus apples.

Whenever I see an apple press I can't help thinking of the Grundies.

(Archer's fans will be with me on this one)

I started listening to the Archers in my twenties when I used to drive home from my job in advertising in Paddington to my flat in Clapham, just around about 7pm each evening. (I wouldn't like you to think I was working that hard, it was just in the 80s you always went to the pub after work for a drink before heading home - think Mad Men with shoulder pads and a lot less style!)

I found the Archers became addictive - maybe a complete antidote to the craziness of the advertising industry I worked in.

But whatever it was it stuck - despite the raised eyebrows of my children and friends.

(And hasn't Joe Grundy done well since then - 90 not out! )

Rain Will Not Stop Play

At the bottom of the orchard, past the beds of late summer fruits and leaks, the marquee is ready and waiting for the wedding guests.

The weather may be gloomy but it is certainly not going to spoil the preparations or the celebrations.

The lanterns are lit and Ted Martin Flowers has been busy decorating the tables.

Bunting hangs between topiary trees

I love the place names on ivy leaves (and so simple to do).

Dotted along the tables are Ted's signature bunches of flowers and herbs.

Snapdragons, roses and veronica are mixed with sage, rosemary and mint.

Rosemary is also used to decorate the table names.

The glasses and wine are ready - now we just need the guests.