Incredible Journeys

Sometimes the seasons seem to sneak up on me; they change so gradually that I change my habits without even noticing. At other times, the climate seems to change overnight and catches me completely unawares. There has been no sneaking for Autumn this year as it seems to have burst upon us with little warning. Whilst the dampness has not filled me with much enthusiasm and I am finding it harder to get out of bed in the mornings, there was a lovely crispness to the air this morning and the leaves are starting to take on their beautiful fiery autumnal colours.

Suddenly it seems that I am seeing Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) everywhere, whether it is running across a fence, climbing a wall or trailing through the branches of a tree. Visually, this is such an unassuming plant for most of the year, but it really comes into its own in Autumn when the colours of the leaves are glorious:

The wildlife in the area is also changing as many birds, animals and insects prepare for migration or hibernation. I cleared a lot of dead perennials from the borders this week, though left a few areas for hibernating insects to make a winter home. We also cleared out our hedgehog house, added some fresh leaf litter and then moved it to a new, sheltered location close to our garden fence. I have no idea whether a hedgehog has ever taken up residence in this house as we completely forget about it for the rest of the year, but it was a nice way to spend an hour in the garden. If you wanted to make your own hedgehog house, Gardeners' World website provides some useful tips, and also suggests some other ways in which you might encourage hedgehogs into your garden:

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-make-a-hedgehog-house/

Whilst some animals and insects are settling down for their winter rest, other species are moving away from our gardens, or simply passing through, using the U.K. as a convenient refueling station on their way to warmer climes.

Most of our avian summer visitors, such as the wonderfully aerobatic swallow and the shy nightingale, will have already departed on their long journey back to Africa. Swallows will cover about 200 miles each day on their six week journey, via desert and rainforest, to South Africa and Namibia. Amazingly, they make this journey biannually, coming back to the U.K. in late March to breed.

Other birds, such as the fieldfare and a variety of water birds, are just starting to arrive in the U.K. from colder climates. They will over-winter here and then return to their breeding grounds in Spring. Amongst these winter visitors will be the tiny Goldcrest, another bird that has earned the title "king of birds" for the dainty little golden crown that sits on its head. Despite being one of our smallest birds, with a length of approximately 9 centimetres and weighing about the same as a teaspoonful of water, its journey really is remarkable. Goldcrests usually reach our shores from Norway, Sweden and Finland, though birds have been known to travel from as far away as Russia or Poland. As it travels over the North Sea, the little Goldcrest has been known to rest on herring boats, earning it the nickname "herring spink" or "tot o'er seas".

The Wildlife Trusts lists some of the best places to see migratory birds throughout the U.K during Autumn:

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_birds_migration

However, sometimes the best place to witness these movements is in our own backyard; for example, some of the starlings and blackbirds that we see in the winter may have arrived here from Eastern Europe, where they will return to breed in warmer weather. From our own garden, we also saw a group of honking geese flying overhead this week, in their characteristic V-formation. NB I learned today that, whilst a "gaggle" of geese describes a group of geese on the ground, the correct term for a group in flight is a "skein", "team" or "wedge", or (amusingly) a "plump" if they are flying close together.

Returning to the plant life in our garden, the asters are still flowering well and were attracting honey bees during a warm spell earlier this week. The evening primroses and viburnum are bringing colour and scent to the borders, and buds are preparing to flower amongst the hellebores I planted earlier this year. The lavatera and hardy geraniums are also still holding their own, though other flowers are fading fast.

Usually October is a good time to think ahead and plant spring flowering bulbs in the garden, or to fill pots with cheery winter pansies and heather. I was ahead of the game this year when I put together a selection of crocus and daffodil pots during late Spring. However, this was by no means good organisation on my part as I was simply clearing an area for my wildflower border and looking for a temporary storage option. In any event, I brought out these pots from behind the garage this week, cleared them of weeds and put them in a position where they can be enjoyed in the New Year.

Next week, I really, really must get down to the allotment to have a good tidy up before it gets too wet to dig!

The Gold-Crested Wren by Charles Tennyson Turner

When my hand closed upon thee, worn and spent

With idly dashing on the window-pane,

Or clinging to the cornice - I, that meant

At once to free thee, could not but detain;

I dropt my pen, I left the unfinish'd lay,

To give thee back to freedom; but I took -

Oh, charm of sweet occasion! - one brief look

At thy bright eyes and innocent dismay;

Then forth I sent thee on thy homeward quest,

My lesson learnt - thy beauty got by heart:

And if, at times, my sonnet-muse would rest

Short of her topmost skill, her little best,

The memory of thy delicate gold crest

Shall plead for one last touch, - the crown of Art.