Gales have been a feature of the garden this week. Even though we are sheltered from the worst effects, it all looks pretty windswept and the tulip tree has dropped most of its leaves. I spent a good bit of yesterday sweeping them up and putting them on the leafmould heap. This morning renewed gales have delivered a second helping. As compensation, poor weather brings some of our favourite birds to the relative shelter of our garden – our flock of long-tailed tits are back, as are a pair of goldcrests. I heard their distinctive twittering and went outside to find them busily feasting on aphids in the mimosa tree.
