And September does what it nearly always seems to do – the schools go back, the holidaymakers go home and September says “Ha! Here’s another burst of summer. Just for you”.
I’ve said thank you and made the most of it. A few (slightly clammy, it must be said) nights in the tent in the garden. Lots of sitting in the sunshine, watching the tomatoes finally ripen. Watching the swallows gather themselves readying to leave. (They left last week – on the 15th September.) But the neighbouring flock , is there a collective noun for swallows? left a couple of days later, and I counted seven stragglers sitting on the wires today…
Dahlias and Asters and Rudbeckia dominating the garden alongside the ridiculously laden apple trees.
The first few flushes of various mushrooms – a novelty still, welcome before they become common place.
Still a few butterflies gracing the garden and neighbouring fields: Red Admirals, all the confetti-like Cabbage Whites, Peacocks, Commas, Wall Browns and the occasional Clouded Yellow… I rubbed my eyes in disbelief at a pristine White Admiral which is usually only seen in high summer, in one generation – apart from exceptional years when there may be a partial second emergence… I wasn’t quick enough to get a photo of it, but plenty of other pictures here:
View from my tent. Early morning…
Some of the many Dahlias and the Rudbeckia goldsturm.
A good mix of Saffron Milk caps, Millers, Charcoal Burner and a scattering of Amethyst Deceivers.
Shelling bean ‘Cocos de Prague’ – a good harvest. Enough to dry and eat over the coming months and enough to sow next year.
A beautifully fresh Red Admiral, nectaring on a pink Aster.
