The autumnal equinox was September 22nd and, right on cue, the first of the new season’s storms has arrived. The days are getting shorter now, and the light is thinner. And you really feel the early morning chill in the garden.

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When a storm is rising out in the Atlantic, you can feel the wind start to pick up in the garden, and the sky darkens. Then the sea in our bay becomes an alternating mix of milky turquoise and silvery shimmers as the sun tries to break through the thickening clouds.

Our storms rise off the west coast of Africa and they travel westwards to the Caribbean and from there, northward, skirting the coast of America and Canada before travelling eastwards, still laden with water and energy, to stir up our bay. The rain is very welcome, despite the salt-blasting, as the summer has been unusually dry, and it has been very hard work to keep everything alive and well.

The secret garden is still going strong as it’s rather sheltered. The statuesque agapanthuses have gone to seed but they are still a show, as are the stalwart begonias. They love this spot.

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The veggie garden has just about finished and the last crop of red and green tomatoes have been picked, pureed and pickled, ready for the winter’s store cupboard.

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The south-facing terraces, bathed in the summer’s light for six months, now face the full force of nature but there is a final show of pinks and reds. The sedums and roses give a welcome pop of colour as they try to hang on for a bit longer.

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The remains of storm Humberto have arrived. It’s very windy and wet so the planned repairs to the garden benches and chairs, and the pond and riverbank restoration work, will have to wait. But when we get a break in the weather, the fresh topsoil will be spread, and the bulbs will be planted before storm Lorenzo arrives.

Come back next time to see how the autumn is progressing.