Weather-wise, not much of anything this month except grey skies..... not much rain, not much sun, not very hot, not very cold! Below average temperatures, though, for the time of year, with a high of only 14°C (64°F) until the 28th, when the sun shone for most of the day, and the temperature peaked at 18°C (66°F). Minimum temperature 7°C (46°F).

I was thrilled to see this Red Admiral butterfly on a Sedum spectabile plant. They are common enough butterflies, but for some reason, I haven't seen any for a very long time. Years ago, there were lots and lots in the garden, but in recent years, they have become very scarce. This is surprising, as their eggs are laid on Nettles, and apart from some rogue ones in the garden, there are enormous groups of them growing in the immediate vicinity. They are such beautiful butterflies, and although we can't compete with the wonderful tropical butterflies in other parts of the world, I love them just the same!

This is an interesting plant in the garden this month - it's called Phytolacca americana. It is a herbaceous perennial with fairly insignificant spikes of whitish flowers, but these are followed by these spectacular deep purple shiny berries, which are great for flower arranging. It should be noted that the berries must not be eaten as they are poisonous. I grew my plant from seed several years ago (very easy!), and it grows about 1 metre high. It has since seeded itself around quite a lot, especially in the cracks between the crazy paving steps which are adjacent to the flower bed where it grows, but it has also managed to seed itself right round the corner into the gravel between the paving slabs on the patio!

I couldn't resist photographing this little grey squirrel as he made his way along a branch of the Eucalyptus tree! Although they can be a real nuisance in the garden, digging up bulbs, and stealing all the hazel nuts from my tree - I still think they are very appealing creatures, and could never hurt one! They are in and out of the garden at all times of the year, and Toby goes berserk after them, though what he'd do if ever he caught one, I don't know!

These lovely berries belong to Arum italicum 'Chameleon'. This is a lovely plant which grows from tubers, and flowers in the spring with typically aroid flowers. Its leaves are beautifully marbled, and very useful for flower arranging. Once the plant has flowered, the leaves tend to die away, leaving these spikes of berries, which are green at first, turning to vivid red-orange as they ripen. The seeds germinate readily after stratification (i.e. frost action over the winter), and I have several self-seeded plants popping up in different parts of the garden. They take a few years to get to flowering size, but it's worth the wait! At this time of year, the new leaves are just beginning to show through the soil again, so next month, both the berries and the leaves will be there, giving a great show!

This is a lovely plant at its best in September. It is a herbaceous Clematis, called C. heracleifolia davidiana. It bears these clusters of waxy, pale blue flowers, with leathery leaves which are a good backdrop for the flowers. I found this plant a few years ago whilst mooching in a market somewhere in Wales (can't remember where it was) whilst on a day trip, and as soon as I spotted it from a distance, I knew I had to have it, even though it wasn't in flower at the time! Since then, it's tripled in size, and gets better every year.

Butterflies seen this month - Peacock, Fritillary, Large White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Gatekeeper.

Birds seen (s) or heard (h) in or around the garden this month - Blackbird (s), Blue Tit (s), Bullfinch (s), Chaffinch (s), Collared Dove (s), Crow (s), Goldfinch (s), House Sparrow (s), Long-tailed Tit (s), Magpie (s), Robin (s), Rook (s), Seagull (s), Starling (s), Thrush (h), Tree Sparrow (s), Wood Pigeon (s), Wren (s).

AUTUMN TINTS
by Ursula M Prout


September leaves are drifting down
Upon the vagrant breeze,
To form a glowing tapestry
beneath the frosted trees.

The bracken fronds are gilded too,
Whilst on the Hawthorn tree,
Its berries once of sombre hue
Are red as red can be.

Across a grey cloud-dappled sky
Comes suddenly to view,
A skein of wild geese winging by,
En route for pastures new.

Though silently a silvery mist
Steals o'er the countryside,
Its tenuous vapours but enhance
The tints of autumntide.