There’s Something in the Air

Well! That was one hell of a summer, wasn’t it? And why am I talking in the past tense? Because yesterday, as I was working in our garden, I could sense an almost imperceptible shift in the atmosphere. Yes, it was cooler. But there was more to it than that. Is it just me, or does the air feel – different? Is the light less vibrant somehow?

For me, the onset of the August Bank Holiday heralds the end of the summer. Meteorological autumn starts on September 1st. The evenings are drawing in and night-time temperatures are falling. Schools reopen, rush hour returns. New Season autumn clothes are all over the internet. The pace of life once again accelerates. Normal service is resumed. Business as usual.

I’ve got to be honest. I’ve loved the heatwaves. Sleeping with our balcony doors open. Waking up every day to wall-to-wall sunshine. Planning outdoor activities without risk of last-minute cancellation.  Bright summer clothes. Peaceful afternoons in the garden. Neighbours on vacation. No traffic noise, just the gentle gurgle of the bubble fountain and the sound of birds singing.  Bliss. Everyday has felt like a holiday. Life lived at a leisurely pace; a brief hiatus.

I’m feeling ambivalent.  Let me share my guilty secret with you. I don’t want it to end. While I’m desperate to make the most of the last couple of sunny days before the weather changes, everyone else is praying for rain, lamenting the parched earth, the scorched borders, endless watering, hosepipe bans and water shortages. But it’s breaking my heart seeing all the trees shedding their leaves prematurely, and all the public floral displays frazzled and brown.  So, we’ve just got to come to a compromise with nature and adapt to this new normal.

It’s time to take stock, to ensure that we don’t get caught out next summer. Because, let’s face it, this may well be the coolest summer we will ever experience; think about that for a moment. So, go into your garden during these last precious days of sunshine, and make copious notes, take lots of photos of your successes and failures, and start planning for next year.

Install a drip irrigation system with a timer; they are water-wise and are generally allowed by water companies during hosepipe bans. Create more shade in your garden. Mulch your borders deeply after the ground has been softened by rain. Research your plants. Drought tolerant plants that can withstand cold, wet winters, is quite a tall order, so keep a keen eye on what doesn’t come back next spring and replace it with something more suitable. The time to start recreating your dream garden starts now.

 Love, Caroline

Cover photo: My drought tolerant shady border.