Mellow weedlessness

The party is almost over. One of the best autumns for many years is coming to an end, the leaves finally seared off the trees by stormy weather. Even people who do not generally notice these things have been moved to comment on the richness and variety of the colours of trees and shrubs, in woodland, parks and gardens and along bypass embankments. Not only have the reliable beeches, field maples, bird cherries and birches been magnificent, but many trees which do not colour vividly every year, such as poplar, willow and hornbeam, have also turned well. My fruit trees, in particular apricot and mulberry, but also pears and apples, have taken on deep yellow hues.

This flare-up has come about through a happy concatenation of circumstances: heavy rainfall in summer meant that there was still some moisture in the ground, so that leaves did not drop prematurely, while sunny days in September and October boosted sugars in the leaves, and a lack of harsh frosts prevented a precipitate fall.