The Cosmos is Still Here

So far this Autumn there have been no frosts and some of the flowers we take for granted in the summer are still out as I write on this blustery, wet November day.

In the house: This passionflower (Passiflora gracilis) is the only annual in the genus. Normally the green fruit, which you can see forming here, turns a beautiful bright orange. It's late this year, so I'll have to wait and see.

In the garden: The Cosmos is still out. It's been flowering for months, alongside Mexican wild marigolds (Cempoalxochitl - flower of the dead).

In the field: Corn Marigold. Small November suns. Soon the farmer will put sheep in this field and the marigolds will disappear by the end of the day.

In the wild: Yarrow (in front) and Wild Carrot (behind). Daucus carota is the ancestor of our familiar vegetable. When the elegant flowers with their bloodred central spot turn to seed, they take on the appearance of birds' nests. A true beauty.

Coming home: Charlotte carrying a huge bunch of spinach from our neighbour David, who picked the leaves from his garden. "Those Cosmos will turn black when the first frosts come," he said. "Then you'll know what to do with them."

Pics: All taken 9 November 2010 by Mark Watson