10 October

A chainsaw cackles demonically on a Saturday morning. One of the more depressing sounds to be heard in our semi-rural location. Though we had been warned; a few months ago there was a letter from the Planning Authority informing us of a neighbour’s intention to ‘thin’ the trees on the edge of their property. In fact they had bought the unclaimed piece of land on which stands a line of mixed pine and oak which cast shadows on their garden. All trees which supposedly have Tree Preservation Orders on them. In practice this is clearly no defence from the imperative to have a sunny plot.

The trees were here first, I’d say.

Back in my own patch I just got on with some autumn housekeeping. Sweeping the patio …

and deadheading the Pelargoniums and Calendula to encourage the last remaining buds.

The garden is beginning to close down for the year, but the hips are abundant on the Rosa Glauca – the sign of a long winter to come?

And the yellow pot mums are a cheering antidote to the day’s whining soundtrack.