Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
28th October 2023
Late Night Scoundrels
Whereas we used to say ‘Don’t forget to put your clocks back this weekend,’ there’s no need now as they adjust themselves. Well, most of them do – I still have two that don’t – but as my brother commented, ‘At least you have upgraded from a sundial.’
And I always share this fabulous quote when the clocks change. When told the reason for the daylight saving time an Indian Chief said, “Only a white man’s government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.”
I read recently that pre the 1700s, night-time was a ‘fearful, all-consuming endurance test, to be got through ideally without falling off a bridge or being stabbed’. But by the end of the 17th century, aristocrats had decided that rather than the traditional daytime festivities, they preferred to party after dark and so ‘modern nightlife was invented in London around 1700’, wrote Dan Hitchens, adding that ‘by the 1780s, foreign visitors reported admiringly that Oxford Street’s shops kept the lights blazing until 10pm’.
In 1777 Horace Walpole wrote ‘The present folly is late hours’, as the aristocrats favoured partying until ‘fashionably late’, and in the biography of the English write Samuel Johnson, he is quoted as saying, ‘Whoever thinks of going to bed before midnight, is a scoundrel.’
I wondered what it would make of those people (like me) who are in bed before 10 … and simply concluded, ‘tired’.
I think autumn is one of the most challenging transitional seasons, so many people feel tired as our circadian rhythms are disrupted by less daylight and dropping temperatures. And you probably won’t be surprised to know it has a name – Autumn Fatigue.
Like Bulbs
There are several tips said to help ease Autumn Fatigue, including ‘eat healthily, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep and being kind to yourself’ – all things that ideally should be done throughout the year, I think. And of course fresh air always helps – even if it’s ‘wet fresh air’. To lift the spirits and look ahead to spring, plant some spring flowering bulbs in beds and borders, suitable grassed areas or tubs and containers. It is ‘delaying gratification’ at it’s best but I guarantee you will be so glad that you did when you see that first splash of colour next year.
Local garden centres will have a good stock of spring flowering bulbs now and are always generous with advice and Landlife Wildflowers have a great range of native wildflower bulbs such as bluebells, snowdrops, wild garlic, winter aconite and the stunning wild tulips. They also stock to of my favourites – the Tenby Daffodil, the main daffodil species native to Britain and particularly suited to growing on rocky ground, grassland and woodlands and the distinctive, delicate, wild daffodil, also called the Lent Lily.
For more choices visit www.wildflower.co.uk or for more information about their wildflower bulbs call 01205 281902 or email info@wildflower.co.uk.
Hallow-eat
It’s Halloween next Tuesday, and whilst I have already shared some great pumpkin recipes with you – have you tried the pumpkin peel fries yet? – it’s quite shocking to realise that around 16 million pumpkins will go to waste after Halloween – I’m not sure who does the maths (or the cooking) but apparently that’s nearly 100 million meals. Lots of people just see the vitamin packed pumpkin as a decoration and don’t even know it’s edible. The pumpkins that are grown specifically for carving are grown for size rather than flavour so to get more ‘bang for your buck’ choose a couple of smaller pumpkins to carve so you can eat them too.
Visit www.hubbub.org.uk/eat-your-pumpkin for fabulous recipes which include pumpkin donuts, wedges, soup, nachos, pie, pumpkin fudge cake, dumplings, curry, pasta, and even pizza and more ideas for Halloween games, decorations, costumes and activities for kids.
Costume Drama
And it’s not just carved pumpkins that are discarded after Halloween – apparently half the Halloween costumes are too. A quick ‘Google’ advised that the top 5 Halloween costumes this year are:
Wednesday Addams of the Addams Family.
Barbie
Shuri from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Spider-Man
Ariel from The Little Mermaid
I’m not quite sure what’s wrong with a white sheet as a ghost costume (as modelled by Yogi), it’s all my brother and I were given – with instructions not to damage them as they had to go back on the bed! Nor do I understand the connection between Barbie, Spiderman and Ariel with Halloween. When mentioning it to my brother in work he commented, “I don’t know what a washing powder has to do with Halloween either.”
Colour Me Happy
One particular client still has great colour (and a great gardener) in her garden at this time of year, proving it is possible to keep colour and interest in the garden even when enthusiasm is on the wane.
Cosmos, Nerines, Hydrangeas, Schizostylis, Yarrow, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides are all still flowering cheerfully – and even an Oriental Poppy, that was cut hard back after it’s initial flowering flurry, is having one last Hurrah.
In another client’s garden this Euonymus Alatus is getting a lot of attention from visitors – not getting a second glance for the rest of the year it is definitely taking centre stage now.
Not surprisingly, it’s common name is Burning Bush but it’s not to be confused with the Gas Plant (Dictamnus albus) which gives off a strong aromatic vapour that can actually be ignited!
Therefore it is also known as the ‘burning bush’ – but for different reasons.
Another brilliant read.
How do you do it?
I enjoyed this week’s read and the lovely photo of Yogi.
I like the fun side of Halloween, with all the pumpkin carvings and young children dressing up to look spooky. However, I dislike the more sinister trick or treat, where gangs of teenagers roam the streets, intimidating people and causing damage.
It’s lovely to see the colourful plants that continue to brighten up our lives as we plunge towards winter.
I too have two clocks that need resetting twice a year, but I do have difficulty getting to bed much before midnight. I’ve tried the before ten, but with little success.
Stay warm and dry.