It's the last few days of September and between showers the final touches take place in the Yen.
The two hydrangeas, 'blueberry Cheesecake' have been planted and the euonymous elata has changed into its autumn attire.
This gloriously tactile grass is a pennisetum and should link the colours in the opposite side of the Yen rather nicely. It's considered a tender perennial in these parts so I'm not sure if it will delight again next year. I guess it will depend on how long and hard the winter is.
With the repositioned Buddha head and tsukubai water bowl, all that remains is replacing the setting stones "ishi wo tateru koto" which represent Buddha and his two attendants.
The gravel has been evenly redistributed and the banana and cannas positioned in place to enjoy what is left of the frost-free weather.
As the weather is about to turn much cooler, the rattan companion seat has taken up its winter position again behind the terrace seat and is now enveloped in its waterproof jacket.
The two Viburnums are placed either side of the patio arch and the washing line has come down.
The garden is being prepared for the quieter months.
But wait...here and there, the plants and trees are making adjustments for their exit party. They're not done just yet.
Cotinus in Mugwort's Retreat.
Acer and euonymous elata in the Yen.
Old papery birch bark peels in Mugwort's Retreat.
And the staghorn tree in the front garden.
There is so much interest in the autumn months yet to be revealed, all it needs is the temperatures to drop a little more.
But summer is not going down without a fight.
Scented white phlox and blue hardy geraniums peek through the glowing weigela Wings of Fire foliage in the corner of the patio border/ Long Border
A pretty fuchsia scrambling through fading peony leaves in the Long Border.
And in the front garden, r. Tall Story and a magenta hardy geranium, along with the final blooms of crocosmias hang on to every last moment of summer.
