A REVIEW OF 2019 - PART 4/4

At this time every year I take a look back at how the garden changed during the year.

This is the final of four posts that have chartered the changing view of the garden; October to December, as winter approaches.

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

COOLER CONDITIONS SIGNAL WINTER DARKNESS

Not one day has passed this month (October) without rain falling. While this has been fairly represented across the UK, it must mean we’re on for a pretty wet autumn.

The flora is gradually feeling the effects of the wet and cooler weather, and with sunlight in limited supply most plant-based organisms are ‘retreating’ to their winter states.

The wildlife has been generally out of sight so far this month, with only small flocks of house sparrows visibly on a regular basis.

As we near the end of the year I’ll soon start reflecting on how the seasons change the garden, starting with how it emerges from winter into spring.

I’ll do it in quarters, starting with January to March.

With not much free time available due to work, darkness and the children, there’s plenty of work to do in the garden.

Clearing things for winter will have to wait until November, but always being mindful that wildlife will be relying on certain elements of the garden or shelter during the cold weather that winter brings.

Autumn and winter are the times of year that mean viewing wildlife that’s active in the day is limited to weekends.

It also brings opportunities to view nocturnal animals, particularly the mammals and birds (bats, badgers, owls and foxes), all of which have been seen or heard recently.

Let’s hope my daughters finally get to see a fox in the flesh – or ‘real life’ as they both say.

AUTUMN BLASTS IN WITH STRONG WINDS

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Autumn has blasted us with a very big storm, and brought some very warm temperatures with it.

Storm Callum dragged warm weather from Africa with its really strong winds, creating summer like conditions in parts of the country and delivering huge amounts of rain for others.

The garden got the warm weather, plenty of rain and some good sunny spells.

The wind has mainly been a southerly, so as the garden is situated in the lea of a large hill and is northerly facing, it meant it wasn’t too affected by the blowy conditions.

However, it didn’t escape from all the winds recently. As these two images show, westerly winds have taken down the vast majority of the leaves – meaning I had to get the big brush out to clear the patio and path.

The third image is of the same date as the second image, but in 2015.

The pond took plenty of leaves and water, so is filling up nicely; although it has meant clearing a lot of the leaves out of the water.

I hope the pond will be full in the next month, but it’s already seeing wildlife jump at the chance to move to a ‘new pond’; the first being pond skaters.

The garden birds have spent plenty of time away from the garden, with many not coming at all while the milder October weather was around.

Today they have come back, and it’s no coincidence that the temperatures have taken a big dip, with night temperatures predicted to be quite cold this week.

AUTUMNAL WEATHER SUITS SLUGS AND SNAILS

No Indian Summer this year then! Well unless October produces something that’s not in keeping with the weather this year.

Growth is continuing among the flora, albeit at a reduce rate, while the early autumn blooms of colour in the garden are somewhat bland this year.

The small garden birds are starting to spend a little more time in the garden, although how much time is yet to be determined as many could be hidden away in the trees and bushes.

There is a concern locally that cats are driving wildlife away, and while this can’t be said to be true for the garden birds yet, it’s clearly a worry given the lower numbers seen this year.

However, the slugs and snails in the garden seemingly love the conditions and are regularly seen around the paths, on the patio and sometimes scaling windows and doors.

There have not been as many crane flies this year and, while it’s a tenuous link, the increase in numbers of spiders might be to blame.

In the last couple of weeks a number of large garden spiders have created huge webs around the garden. Unfortunately they’ve been mainly catching humans!

As October swings around the bird counts will be restricted to the weekend, but it’ll be interesting to note the numbers and variety that come along to feast on the different feeders.