Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
26th September 2026
Second Wind
With October in sight, I feel the year is slipping through my fingers. Much like most of the countryside and nature in general, I’m not really sure what day, month or season we are in most of the time. Going by the weather alone, we could be in any month of the year really. With conditions perfect for encouraging the swathes of verdant new grass, it could easily be spring; hot, muggy middays could indicate the summer; hazy, dewy mornings suggest autumn but the chilly nights could be early or late winter.
My own veggie patch is just as discombobulated. I have lots of lovely new mustard greens growing, including my favourite – Giant Red Mustard; the basil plants, which I thought had died off in the heat, are now lush and full of flavour and my tomatoes and courgettes have had their second wind.
There is nothing quite like being a gardener to encourage you to both live in the present and yet prepare for the future. I love it.
Upcoming Events
Whilst a few of the boys in work have booked their winter sun holidays already, I am looking at options a bit closer to home, and where I can get back to my ‘burrow’ each night.
RHS Rosemoor in north Devon are putting on their annual ‘Glow Festival’ again during November and December with a new Glow trail where you can enjoy an interactive light and sound installation, which responds to footsteps with shifting colour and musical notes.
Described as, “Bringing more surprises than ever before. With larger-than-life features and interactive installations along the way, it’s a magical experience that’s sure to captivate all ages. For an unforgettable night out, add a silent disco session to your Glow visit on Friday 11 or Saturday 12 December. Get the ultimate selfie with loved ones in the Rainbow Tunnel, then see the Devon Heritage Orchard in a whole new light, and walk through giant dandelions before heading to the lake with its giant water feature”.
More details at www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor/whats-on/rosemoor-glow
Put on by nature itself, the much revered autumn colours can be enjoyed at Westonbirt Arboretum from 1st October to 17th November. And later on, from the 27th November – 31st December, their enchanting after-dark trail returns for 2026 with dazzling lights, spectacular installations, and festive fun for the whole family.
Created by the award-winning producers behind Christmas at Kew, it’s a listed as must-see festive experience. There are also lots of guided walks. Like the Magic of Maples, workshops, forest bathing and various other events happening too.
www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretum
You can also enjoy the spectacular autumn colours at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthen and learn to make your own autumn or Christmas wreath, as well as other winter workshops, and last but certainly not least check out the various events at the National Botanical Gardens of Wales. I quite fancy the Winter Herbal Remedy Workshop held on Wednesday 21st October and the hedge laying and charcoal making course on 3rd December.
There are lots of other fantastic options too. Why not book an interesting day course for friends and colleagues instead of having a traditional Christmas party. www.botanicgarden.wales/visit/whats-on
Fun Guy
As well as the promise of delicious autumn colours, there are already some lovely autumn berries and fruits strutting their stuff at the moment. One of the most eye-catching has to be the Cornus capitata or the Himalayan Dogwood. It is an elegant, large shrub – although I would call it a small tree – which has evergreen foliage and creamy coloured flowers that open in the Summer. The flowers are stunning and will always evoke the comment, ‘What’s that?’ from someone new to the garden.
But now the Himalayan Dogwood has elevated it’s standing even further by boasting striking large orange-red fruits that look a lot like strawberries. The fruits are actually edible too and can be eaten straight from the tree. Like most other berries they can also be used for puddings, tarts, jams, yogurt and even fermented into wine.
Please do be careful that you are confident when identifying the tree though – as the saying goes, ‘Anything can be eaten, but some things only once.’
That saying was originally referring to picking mushrooms and my word, aren’t the conditions just right for them too. I have spent a fair bit of time foraging for mushrooms over the years and always use Daniel Butler’s straight-forward book ‘Fungi Forays’ as my trusty guide.
Daniel is passionate about increasing the PR and decreasing the fear around mushrooms. He shares, “Last year five people were killed in bucket related accidents and 91 people died falling out of bed. No one died from eating a poisonous mushroom.”
He continues to explain fondly, that a mushroom is simply a misunderstood rose.
It is this refreshing and reassuring approach that will endear you to the fungi forager who also offers guided foraging days within 5 miles of Rhayader www.fungiforays.co.uk
Stihl Brilliant
My love of all things ‘Stihl’ is widely known by friends and family and I often have to put up with the leg pulling about the fact that I virtually live in their long sleeved, half-zipped base layer, although I wear it as a top layer! The fact is that I actually have five of them, in various stages of age and decay, because they are just so practical. Although apparently not for all events as I was once asked, “Do you think a top with a chainsaw on it is appropriate for this event?”
I simply replied, “Yes, otherwise I would have worn something else.”
The fact is that it is warm, comfy, stretchy and just easy to wear. And that’s what I expect from my clothes. Fit for purpose, I think it’s called. And that’s also why I like Stihl tools – they are just ‘comfy’ and easy to use, especially the newish battery operated range.
I have recently received details of their new handheld, portable, battery-powered RCA50 pressure washer that you don’t even have to connect to a tap. I’m not a fan of pressure washing as I always get in a knot with the electric cables and hosepipe, and water and electric are not great bedfellows.
The really clever thing is that the new pressure washer can be used in suction mode simply by placing the suction hose into your water butt, or even just a bucket or Gorilla tub of water. It’s genius. And safe. No mains electricity – or even a tap necessary.
And there’s lots for it to do at this time of year, from cleaning garden furniture before storing for the winter, to washing muddy (and in a few months salty) cars and bicycles. Compact and lightweight at 2.3 kg and with a maximum pressure of 100 bar, the RCA 50 offers an impressive weight-to-power ratio, making cleaning jobs around your home and garden easier and therefore far more pleasant. I would predict that you’ll have a little competition for using this – ideal for ‘delegating by stealth’.
The STIHL RCA 50 apparently comes with an extensive range of accessories as standard, including a surface cleaner with integrated wheels and steering function for easy, splash-free cleaning of patios and paths. It’ll work for 15 minutes on a full charge which although doesn’t sound long, is an ideal time between tea breaks. 
I love discombobulated! It’s one of my favourite words that fits so many situations.
As we transition from Autumn towards Winter, I hope all is well with you and Yogi.