September is here. While meteorological autumn has already begun (1st) it won’t be long before astronomical autumn arrives (23rd) too.
I love this time of year; for me it’s the time for taking stock and starting new adventures (a feeling probably ingrained from my educational years). I particularly look forward to planning changes in the garden and start making Christmas presents at this point in the year. Plus Autumn is my favourite season, the fresher sunny mornings and the warm leaf colours.
Along with the signs of autumn (including Blackberries, Elderberries and Sloes ripening) I have noticed a change in how the days feel within the past few weeks.
As the school year begins I had a week off to relax after a long hectic summer.
At the start the week I decided to walk round the local woodland park. It was a warm, dry and sunny day on Monday. Once I entered the meadow area I was aware of a loud chorus amongst the uncut grass. Upon closer inspection I discovered the wonderful chirps were being made by lots of Roesel’s bush crickets (Metrioptera roeselii).
The flowers still blooming were; Hawkweed, Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Chicory (Cichorium intybus).
Lots of Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and several Small white butterflies (Pieris rapae) were flitting between the flowers especially the Chicory. The blue flowers of the Chicory really stood out in the sunshine.
I even got to see a Speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) resting in the sun on the edge of the wood.
One thing came as a surprise as I wondered through this oasis of calm. It was fantastic to discover a notice about Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) nesting in area.
As they are on the Red list Bird of Conservation Concern it was nice to learn that they have made a home nearby.
Although I didn’t go away on holiday I planned to visit a few places before the weather turned. One place I finally visited was the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. Although it was later in the season there was still lots to see. Initially I looked round the glasshouses within the Tropical Corridor. There were lots of plants from around the world which required extra protection. I am a big fan of cacti so I liked seeing them planted naturally rather than in pots. There were lots of Pelargoniums as well. One whose leaves I particularly enjoyed smelling was Pelargonium ‘Chocolate peppermint‘ which reminded me After Eights.
Within the same glasshouse I got so see a Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) enjoying the flowers of the Pelargonium quercifolium ‘Royal oak’.
After the glasshouses I walked around the Garden of Medicinal plants. There were Honey bees buzzing around lots of plants in this section. I found them visiting a;
– Myrtus communis var. tarentina ‘variegata‘
– Lobelia tupa,
– Salvia stachydifolia,
– and a Salvia amistad; along with a Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
It was also lovely to watch some Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) as I ate lunch. Normally shy birds I usually only hear them sing in early spring, however these clearly weren’t bothered about us.
The next stop was to the Mental Wellbeing garden. I particularly enjoyed this small garden dedicated to improving mental health. It concentrated on the senses so there were plants you could feel, smell as well as view. Colour was important; along with soothing green foliage there were calming blues and purples along with joyful yellows and oranges. There was even a reference to garden therapy which is close to my heart along with a dedication to the charity Thrive. (See Thrive).
Wildlife can also have a positive affect on mental health so it was great to see insects in this space too. There was;
– an unidentifiable bumblebee investigating a Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’) flower covered in pollen.
– plus a Green aphid on a beautiful sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’).
I continued to notice more insects as I kept walking around; starting with the Dicotyledon Order Beds, where I saw a Honey bee on a dahlia,
through to the Garden of Edible Plants. In the tea bed, which was near Fortune’s Tank Pond, a male Common darter dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) was resting on a metal teapot shaped frame holding up Nettles (Urtica dioica) inside. The nettles were meant to be there as nettle tea can be a diuretic.
There were some interesting containers used as pots in this bed. Mint (Mentha) was growing in a teapot
and a tea plant (Camellia sinensis) was planted in a tea chest.
These unusual pots gave me some ideas for my own garden.
Another area I was very interested in seeing was the dyers bed. I would love to try colouring fabric or yarn with natural dyes so I wanted to see which plants were there. On the yellow cosmos (cosmos sulphureus) was a female Syrphus ribesii hoverfly.
The flowers of this Cosmos are used to create a yellow- orange dye. I think I may try dying with this plant if dye is amazing as the flowers.
I meandered further round the other sections of the garden ending in the community garden. Alongside edibles were wildflowers that can be used as herbal medicine.
I love this sign.
Along with plants such as Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) were Herb robert (Geranium robertianum) whose crushed
leaves can aid wound repair and the aroma believed to repel mosquitos. Another so called weed I found there was Plantain (Plantago major). When used as a soothing poultice the leaves
are useful for calming insect bites and inflammation.
I ended the week beside the sea in Hampshire. I always look for seaglass along beaches and Saturdays hunt was plentiful. The weather was lovely on Saturday; sunny and warm with a gentle breeze. Along with the soothing sound of the waves I could hear Herring gulls (Larus argentatus). This was the perfect end to my week off and the start of Autumn.
Bee in the Moment 