October in the Northern Hemisphere

[Yann]

Aster are sign of the autumn, they're at their peak in my garden.

[Robert]

The site where our back room once stood has now been cleaned up! The potted plants are dormant bulbs (for the most part) waiting for the first autumn rain storm (predicted to arrive in a few days). Right now we are using the area as a holding area until we get things organized.



Our greenhouse room with a new window door. The solar energy coming in the room is great, especially with the cooling out door temperatures.



A view toward to garden. There is still much work to do. Mostly organization and (planting          ).

[ashley]

Really great work Robert, and so much more room for plants

[ian mcdonald]

As stupid policies destroy more of our land it is ever more important to make habitats for wildlife in our gardens. One plant, which is probably not regarded as garden worthy, is ivy. It is a good plant for autumn flowers which are a welcome food source for insects. It also provides shelter for birds as well as nesting sites. At the moment mine are buzzing with insects including butterflies, bees and hover flies. Rather than take over a central position it is a good species planted on a boundary, either in a hedge or along a wall. If the wild plant is not considered suitable there are variegated types. Still in flower is Tuberous thistle, Cirsium tuberosum. Seeds have been sent to the exchange.
A dark form of Cyclamen now in stock at the local garden centre, possibly persicum.

[ian mcdonald]

One of the insects in the garden now. It has been a good year for red admirals, there were 7 in the garden yesterday.

[ian mcdonald]

Among the birds in the garden today were blue tit.

coal tit,

and robin.

Keep a watch out for the giant moth invasion.

[ashley]

Schools, universities, public transport and many businesses are closed here today on account of tropical storm Ophelia.  I moved the cars clear of trees but within 5 minutes part of a Monterey cypress fell across our road and electricity cable.  Fortunately we managed to clear the debris quickly but ominous creaks suggest more to come.  'Autumn colour' in the garden is disappearing fast

[David Nicholson]

All the best Ashley. Quite breezy here but sunny at the moment and it looks as the worst will be to the west and north west of us. Rained a lot during the night and cars covered with sand blowing up from the south.

[Ian Y]

I hope all our friends stay safe as this storm passes over, it is due to hit us in the early hours of Tuesday morning when it should have lost some of its energy. Meanwhile it is dark windy and very wet.

[ian mcdonald]

Breezy here and the sky is a strange colour, yellowy grey.

[ian mcdonald]

I have just noticed, 2.15 pm, that the sun is pink. A result of pollution? img. 00456.

[Robert]

Breezy here and the sky is a strange colour, yellowy grey.

Ian,

I thoroughly enjoyed your photographs of the wildlife, especially the insects.



This Tom Turkey showed up at the farm the other day.

The birds are migrating around and there is a new mix of birds both at the farm and at our Sacramento home. The butterflies are more or less gone for the year. I did see a few Skippers the other day and it seems like the Cabbage Whites are always around.

[ian mcdonald]

Robert, I hope Tom manages to stay around, at least until after new year. We should be getting our winter visitors here soon, including fieldfare and redwings.

[Robert]

Robert, I hope Tom manages to stay around, at least until after new year. We should be getting our winter visitors here soon, including fieldfare and redwings.

Ian,

I hope Tom manages to stay around too. There is a autumn hunting season for Turkeys in our area, however it is not safe to hunt near our farm (too many houses, however there is a small percentage of "crazy" hunters out there). This Tom was huge, at least for a wild Turkey. He does seem to like the farm, so hopefully I can get a better photograph of him.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Storm Ophelia produced a spectacular sunset today - hard to do justice to in photographs.

.