I am always reluctant to let go of Summer with all its variety of colours everywhere you look, but that is all forgotten when the trees turn into their unforgettable Autumn colours.  Thank goodness we have the four Seasons.  Having lived abroad for a few years I still remember the sheer joy of standing outside in the rain whilst all the tourists complained because they couldn’t sunbathe.  I also remember, many years ago, driving down with my American penfriend from New Jersey to Florida to visit her relatives and seeing her putting a large black bin liner in the boot of her car before we set off.  When I asked what was in it she replied that her cousin had asked her to bring some fallen Autumn leaves as she was homesick for the North.  I was somewhat confused but when we arrived, in hot and humid weather, and I witnessed the laughter and sheer joy on the faces of the grown ups and their children as they ran around playing in the huge pile of leaves it made me realise how much we take for granted.    The saying “Little things mean a lot” never rung so true. 

That saying also is true of the thanks we receive whilst out and about in the town gardening   Just to know that people really do appreciate the time and effort we put into this voluntary work makes it all worthwhile.    It makes up for the mindless few who, as always, have stuffed beer bottles and glasses, food containers and wrappers, etc.in the tubs and gardens  – usually within hopping distance of a waste bin.   Days after the War Weekend I retrieved two small plastic Union Jacks pushed deep down into the middle of a tub in the Market Place a few feet from the bin.     What’s new I hear you say?

On a cheerier note I, like many others, cannot wait for Spring - especially as we are promised another harsh Winter.   Most of the gardens and tubs have bulbs in them from previous years but quite a few new ones have been planted.   Any that have been removed have been recycled to be replanted at Keld Head pond, which is now looking very smart.  I’m sure that many people will join me in offering thanks to all concerned in this long awaited refurbishment.    

Our “In House” garden competition Presentation Evening in September was a great success.   Our winners, their guests, and members of PIB joined together for a social evening at The Station Hotel.  All our winners were presented with a Plaque, a Certificate with a photo of their winning garden on it, and an enlargement of that photo for them to keep.   After the presentation of these we had a fun quiz and a lovely buffet supper and finally, to round it all off, a draw for the raffle prizes kindly donated by members of PIB.   Our thanks to Dawn and her staff for a lovely evening – we all had a great time.

As I write this at the end of October there are still lots of annuals still in bloom so we have, in some cases, not removed them yet.  No doubt within a short time the frosts will come, they will all end up in the compost bin and the gardening cycle will start all over again.    Don’t forget to feed the birds – they are an integral part of the garden and are such a pleasure to see on the feeders.   What better sight to cheer us all up on a dreary Winter’s day than the robin with his bright red breast?

May I, on behalf of Pickering in Bloom, wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Eileen Blakeley.