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.

Break out the Bunting - It's a Boy!

As I drive to Pythouse I nearly crash as I spot a sign by the road near to Mitch's wife, Clementines' shop. On the chalk board are the words "It's a Boy!"

On Tuesday Clementine gave birth to Orlando, a brother for Joshua - and Dad delivered the baby. Mitch and Clementine had always planned a home birth but hoped that would include a midwife! As it turned out Mitch delivered his son just as the midwife came through the door.

As I chat to Mitch and congratulate him, my daughter Libby is distracted by the colour your own bunting.

She asks rather wistfully, "Is nineteen too old to be colouring in bunting?"

Absolutely not!

In Praise of Beetroot, Apple & Honey Soup

I will come to the soup, but first, a wander around the garden.

The apples are ripe, the cabbages and leaks are going crazy, the celery is perfect and the sweetcorn is very nearly there.

In the flower beds it is the time of the dahlia. And the sweet peas just go on and on.

It seems I am not the only one taking photographs of the flowers.

Flowers seem to be the order of the day and I spot garden designer Robert out picking Cosmos.

Robert runs his garden design business from the plant nursery he has set up at Pythouse and he is now the proud owner of a Shepherd's hut ...or rather an office - complete with wood burning stove.

It took a crane to deliver the hut into the garden - with gardener Heather telling all those around to mind the cabbages.

The rain is just starting to fall as we head inside for lunch.

More flowers - this time some arrangements from Ted Martin Flowers in Tisbury (spotted them at 20 paces!) that are left over from a weekend party.

In amongst the shortbread and cakes, the dahlias make another colourful appearance.

Now, when it is time for that soup, what can I say?

Simply heavenly.