Autumn colours
The still weather has been particularly kind to border flowers which are holding up astonishingly well this year. Autumnal hues have crept into the scene too so a painterly picture greets you whichever way you look. I love the antique shades that creep into hydrangeas as they age making them one of the most attractive autumn plants for the garden; we've used them extensively at West Dean because they're such good do-ers.
As its autumn, it's time for a bit of self-appraisal which generally means a stiff walk each day and where better to walk to than St Roche's Arboretum? Garden visitors in the past have treated St Roche's as a daily destination for their daily walk (a doctor's prescription!) and have relished in viewing the change in seasons and continuing work taking place. The arboretum may be a bit of a sleeping beauty but that's no reason to ignore it completely. The views right at the top as you walk across the parkland are terrific and particularly at this time of year.