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The spectacle of the changing autumn leaf colour in the states of New England in America is famous world-wide, but you don’t need to travel across the Atlantic to experience one of the natural world’s great wonders. October and November are the best times to visit botanic gardens, parks or arboretums here in Britain for a taste of nature’s blaze of colour.
Just because summer is coming to an end that doesn’t mean your work in the garden is over. Aside from pruning, clearing and repairing beds, there are seeds to be planted ready for summer. And don’t forget, there are seeds to go in which will grow over the winter too.
In September I’m always tempted to start trimming back to get a proper head start on autumn, but my advice to myself is always #ResistTooMuchTidying.
I can’t find an origin for the saying ‘the British are a nation of gardeners’. I suppose it has its beginnings in the alleged quote of Napoleon’s that we’re a nation of shopkeepers and has been appropriated by those wanting to highlight the nation’s love of all things to do with gardening.
Although winter typically means a time for roasts, stews, casseroles and soups, it is also desirable to maintain a good intake of green vegetables. Whilst British weather may seem to mitigate against home-grown varieties, this need not be the case. With a little care and expertise, many varieties can be grown successfully over even the coldest months. Here we focus on winter salad leaves, which are perfectly capable of providing you with an almost continuous supply of green goodness.