Front garden

This one is mainly for my records - what the front patio looks like in mid winter after I've picked up most of the leaves from next door's copper beech, that ended up on my garden. As the leaves are wet, it was impossible to get the ones stuck to the stones up - short of getting down on hands and knees and peeling them off individually. I will see whether there is a dry enough period for them to dry off a bit, which will make them easier to sweep. One way or another, I more or less filled the brown bin.

Last year, we didn't get anywhere near that number of copper beech leaves on the garden. But we did the year before. It is presumably to do with the direction of the wind when the leaves are coming off - whether the gales are south westerly, or more north westerly.

The garden is inevitably looking a bit sad, the lavender has keeled over and needs propping up, and most things have died right back. However, I noticed a periwinkle flower, which was nice to see, and there are enough evergreen plants to keep the garden from looking completely bare.

For the rest, we warmed up the house, sorted out some bits and pieces (Mr A put the two new chairs together), took recycling to the dump, and attended a wee soirée chez N and A. It was lovely to see people again, and feel integrated in this little community. The weather changed quite dramatically while we were out. It was positively balmy as we walked back at 11.30, and we are promised warm weather tomorrow before lots and lots of rain.