HIPS HIPS HOORAY!

The summer is over before it began. We have had a few sunny days but it is very autumnal despite it being August. Storms Antoni and Betty have already been and we have not had the Harvest Festival yet. Time to take pleasure in small things like these glorious reds hips from the Rosa Ragusa. They are very abundant this year and they remind me of a favourite cough syrup when I was a child-Rose Hip Syrup.

The summer’s rain has been very good for the plants which are overflowing their banks – just look at the terraces going down to the house, especially the blue-tipped white agapanthuses poking out of the rosemary waterfalls and the healthy buxuses.

Down in the secret garden and along the stone river facing the sea, the last of the blue agapanthuses and the abelia are still on show. And the self-seeded apple tree is full of fruit.

There is more! The chardonnay grape vines have for the first time ever produced some grapes, and the lovely brass bird tap has been restored to its original glory.

Come back next time for more news of autumn’s arrival and another book club meeting in Warwick.