As noted recently plug plants are an economical way to grow if you are willing to play the long game. These are Lesser Calamint (Calamintha nepata), exceptionally good value at 10 for £15.50 including delivery- in fact there were 11 in the box so even better! 

 Moreover these arrived as tough little specimens (probably divisions) rather than tender seedlings. They were ready to plant out plus several I potted up position tbc in the spring. It's a great little plant for well drained soil in sun and flowers profusely late summer/early autumn, much visited by pollinators. [see entry dated 26th. September 2022]

 I had always assumed C. nepata to be a southern European/Mediterranean species; indeed its range extends across Europe to North West Africa, North Turkey and Ukraine. However I learned recently it is also indigenous to the UK. Beth Chatto's website describes it as "a very scarce British native found primarily on the sandy and gravel ridges of northeast Essex: it could therefore be justifiably seen as the native botanical icon of our part of the world".

 Thinking about it the one I have had for years in the Belfast sink in the front garden was purchased from the Beth Chatto nursery. It has proved to be indestructible in that location. As a species there are several almost identical forms: the tiny flowers can be pale blue, deeper blue or white. 

 

 Foggy days. 

Looking west across Hitchin from Windmill Hill. 

Bright sun beginning to burn off the haze. 

The Chiltern Hills receding into mist.

 

 We are well into 'the fall' but not much has fallen. Certain trees and shrubs have indeed shed their leaves, some are only just starting to wear their autumn colours, others are still shades of green. There was some leaf fall in September bought on by the drought, but then enough rain and sun to rejuvenate growth. 

 

Golden Ginkgo.

 Well, it must be late autumn because the leaves on the Virginia Creeper have turned fiery red and mostly fallen. Then again the sky is blue, it's mild, sunny and dry; more like the tail end of summer. The landscape is usually sopping wet at this point in the season even on a day without rain. But I'm seeing minimal dew and zero condensation. Today would be a good day to put your washing on the line.

 It has been said we will need seven months above average rainfall to replenish rivers, reservoirs and aquifers. If we have a dry winter after the drought and then another drought it will be (to quote an old folk song) "Hard times in old England, in England very hard times".

 I'm not complaining about a beautiful day to be out in the garden but I am a little uneasy...

Postscript It must be late autumn because it was pitch dark by six o'clock!

 

 A delivery from the Beth Chatto nursery, always known for propagating quality plants in conjunction with the renowned garden she developed. In doing so she became hugely influential both as a horticulturalist and as a garden designer. She wrote a number of books on various facets of her work and they are essential reading. 

 

 First storms of winter blew across the country the past couple of days (coinciding appropriately enough with the end British Summer Time). No dramas to report, just a spindly Silver Birch at the music school that blew over and snagged another tree. It was slender enough that I cut it with a bow saw and dragged the sections deeper into the trees to rot.