Autumn's cautious arrival

Autumn has arrived - or at least begun to show its face - with the first conker, rose hips, bright against a still-clear, still-blue sky, and the last of the butterflies - lots of speckled browns and a few cabbage whites.

The sweet peas have finally finished and, sadly, I've removed their browning stems. Also pruned the buddleia of its last dead flowerheads. It's still amazingly mild and sunny but, of course, at this time of year, as soon as the sun's gone, it's instantly cool. Sigh.