Pinch and a punch, it's the end of the month! Goodbye August

The walled garden at Chartwell in bloom in August

I can't believe it's already the end of August - the days are beginning to shorten, the temperature is beginning to drop, and there's definitely a sense of autumn in the air! I haven't visited as many gardens as I'd wished to because family commitments have kept me at home this month, but I did get to Knole, where Vita Sackville-West was born and to Sissinghurst, the legendary garden that she and her husband created in Kent which draws visitors from all over the world.

Alfriston Clergy House - a delightful small garden in East Sussex

But for me the main focus was on smaller gardens this month, and I was lucky enough to visit Sandgate Close and Alfriston Clergy House, just down the road from Brighton, Old Buckhurst in Kent, the wonderful secret walled garden at Preston Manor, and several bigger gardens that brought delights and surprises including Chartwell.

Blousy summer blooms in late August

There's a lot in bloom right now and I've explored pinks, yellows, greens and plants as an art form. But now the seasons are moving on and I'm looking forward to all the autumn colours all over the country.