Problem, challenge, opportunity ...

Looks dead to me

Problem: most of the pyracantha (Firethorn) on the north wall of the house is on the way out.  It has been here longer than we have, and has three thick stems, rooted in hardly any depth of (very poor) soil in an unloved corner by the electricity meter; in theory it is supposed to be tied into wires on the wall, but both wires and vine eyes need replacing and it's all out of shape.  Large parts of it had to be cut back to accommodate some building work in that area, which didn't help.  And now all the growth from two of the three stems, virtually all of the top growth, has gone brown with shrivelled berries; the growth on the third one, meanwhile, is in the wrong place, all at the top of its stem, and needs removing.  The pruning saw beckons.  The good news is that there is fresh green growth from the bottom; so it's an opportunity to clear the wall, get new supports in place and start training the new growth into better shape.  I think some feeding wouldn't go amiss either.

Nerine

The weather is turning autumnal; there has been some warm sunshine but evenings and nights are cool (the heating is on) and overall it's quite unsettled with a lot of damp (and rain today).  The sweet peas are virtually over (can't complain, they've done very well) and the phlox and Japanese anemones are slowing down.  There are still a few flowers on the pinks, the occasional rose ('Blush Noisette' is still doing well and will go on into December unless the weather turns really bad) and the Sedum 'Herbstfreude' is coming into bloom; the dahlias are still fine, with flowers on 'Bishop of Auckland', 'Ambition' and 'Blue Bayou'.  (I'm still not very keen on the latter, but it does produce striking blooms.)  The nerine is starting to flower too, though there are only five flower stems as far as I can see; I may need to try to thin it out (and again some feeding is called for!).  And a sure sign that autumn is on the way - there are flowers on the Viburnum 'Dawn'.

The first tomatoes have finally turned red (and been eaten, with relish).  The aubergine plants are still there but none have set fruit so I might as well get them out; must sow them much earlier next year.  I also have one tiny pepper on one tiny pepper plant!

There are few flowers left on the buddleja so fewer butterflies have been in evidence, though there are some Red Admirals still around and the Comma was feeding on a rotten apple one day.  The robins are sorting out territories, singing loudly at one another; the one that rules the roost on the drive and front garden has been very friendly (or cheeky depending on how you look at it).  I gave him a present of some vine weevil grubs found in one of the blue echeveria pots (the top growth had all died off and the lack of roots betrayed the grubs' presence), which were gratefully received; I got rid of the grubs and he got a meal.  Win-win.