Autumn has arrived

It felt much much fresher than of late, and with temperatures dropping to single digits I did my usual running around to try and protect more sensitive plants. So my medium and small tropical Araucaria are back inside, as are a couple of the Aloe. The bigger ones will have to take their chances, at 14ft tall the largest Norfolk Island Pine simply has nowhere to go. It did survive last year, but I don't think it's very happy. Likewise a number of the central African plants have been moved in and cleaned ready for winter, and seem to be enjoying the much more constant warmth indoors. There is a lot more to do but I've made a good start. The conservatory is already looking a little bit full is the main problem, but at the same time as I've been bringing plants in I've been cleaning it a little, getting rid of dust, mould, dead leaves. In fact it all looks rather nice.

Birding-wise I'm back in London and have been enjoying Wanstead Flats. Autumn of course has been in full swing for birds for at least a month now, and is a time for lingering birds whereas in the Spring they are often straight through. So for example yesterday there were five Whinchat and a Tree Pipit on the Flats, and they're all still here today. It's difficult to say exactly how long they've been here but the Tree Pipit I think arrived in the week, and there were definitely a few Whinchat earlier as well, though whether the same birds or not who can say. It's nice to have at least something of interest going on (even if it isn't Wrynecks, Nightjars and Barn Owls - yes, I missed all three!), but the clear skies mean we're likely missing out on birds sailing straight over the top. It is lovely though, cool mornings with low mist. I rolled out my red hat for the first time since March or so on Saturday. I hadn't seen it for months but it was in the first place I looked, the pocket of my winter coat. With the gloves, which also saw their first outing, and which at six degrees at 6am proved very worthwhile.

Any other news? Not really. Chablis disappointment, does that count? I hadn't had a bottle for a long while and was quite excited by the thought, but opened one to find an oxidised yellow mess. What a bummer. The reserve bottle of Bourgogne Blanc was fine in terms of condition, and whilst nice in its own way clearly couldn't deliver the same experience. Here's a photo to demonstrate the colour difference, although the nose was the obvious giveaway. Tonight there is the first stew of the Autumn, and a bottle of 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine Giraud awaits, the final bottle from a case of six. The first three were sensational in 2021 and early 2022, numbers four and five a little later in 2022 rather grim and I've been reticent about opening the last one. I'm hoping for one last hurrah, but in case it too is a hot pruney mess then I already have an alternative on standby from Chapoutier.