October

From walking in Yorkshire to gentler strolls near home, October was an active month. I'm trying to boost my daily step count, and October's sunshine and splendid display of leaves encouraged me to get out and about - even if only round the block. 

The beginning of the month was very busy with a short break in Settle, then 24 hours in Manchester with an Indian music recital one evening and a visit to RHS Bridgewater the next day. Nearer to home I visited Derby Hydrangeas and Elvaston Park.

The good weather continued and although I didn't go 'out out' I spent most mornings walking around the local park or to the shops/post office admiring autumn foliage and kicking up fallen leaves. I'm trying to get my average daily steps up to 4000 but I'm beginning to feel I've left things a little too late in the year. Still my efforts this month raised it to over 3500 so maybe there's hope ...

On a less personal note, the last UK coal-fired power station closed. It was situated at Ratcliffe on Soar and made a notable landmark when travelling along the A453 to my elder daughter's. Apparently it will take years to de-commission and eventually clear the site but when that time comes the area will be totally different. 

At home in the garden the leaves changed and fell but Spring also started to appear with the winter jasmine coming into flower, hopefully to keep brightening its corner throughout winter.

 

Elvaston Park

With Autumn definitely having arrived I was trying to think of local places to visit which didn't require energetic walking but which had trees. My usual choices would be Kedleston or Shipley Park but both involve uphill paths. Elvaston, on the other hand, doesn't. So off we went ...

From the car park we headed in a clockwise direction, through the wilder 'forested' area under trees and alongside streams, to the walled garden where a surprising number of plants were still in flower.

Then up to the hall for ice cream and cake, before continuing round the lake back to the car. 

 

Autumnal Hydangeas

Back home from our short break the glorous weather continued - at least for a while. Taking advantage of it we headed to Darley Park for a last look at the hydrangea garden before it closed at the end of October. 

We last visited at the beginning of September but one thing I love about local gardens is being able to watch them change through the seasons as if they were your own garden.

Colours have, of course, changed - many of the white flowers have turned pink, bright reds to a dusky magenta, some plants have leaves which turn a dark red with the approach of autumn. 

Having such an extensive array of hydrangeas is an ideal opportunity to pick which you'd have in your garden. It's a pity there are no sales here but at there are lists of local stockists and as all the plants are labelled you can check their availability. My garden is sadly too crowded for new plants of any description.

 

RHS Bridgewater in Autumn

This was my second visit to RHS Bridgwater this year - the first being in Spring - and as you'd expect there were a lot of changes between the two visits - daffodils and blossom replaced by Autumn flowers and foliage.

This post is really just a photo dump, so scroll through and enjoy.