If there’s a month in the gardening year destined to fall a bit flat it’s November, the light levels are low, the days short and the weather mostly grey and gloomy.

Except my garden is having none of that, even with the sun shrouded by thick cloud there is so much fire in the foliage it’s positively luminous!

That old hat tradition of cutting everything back at this time of year is beyond me, what comparison is ‘neat and tidy’ to the splendour of late autumn foliage. It protects the crowns of the plants, is home and shelter to wildlife and as the fungi and soil organisms begin to do their work so nutrients are decomposed and recycled ready for next spring’s growth.

And how does it look? Hot or what!