November 2001
Generally I regard Winter as starting on the 15th of this month. By that time when I look out of my front windows there are no leaves on the limes and horse chestnuts. This year, however, although the frosts started on the 3rd and the dahlias and Busy Lizzies succumbed straight away, both garden and road have remained autumnal throughout the month. Indeed most trees only came into full autumn colour after the 15th.
With the double fall there are more leaves than ever this year. I have put many into bags but am now resorting to packing them into a wheelbarrow and heaping them onto the East side bed. I shall probably put these loose ones under my potatoes next year.