The garden is beginning to show signs of autumn now, with most of the peas and beans picked, except for late peas and runner beans. The early potatoes are finished and the set onions, shallots and garlic are harvested, dried and stored. After a late start, the tomatoes are coming in now – better late than never.

Spring cabbage has been planted. I like to get it well started before the growth slows down. That way, it will be grand and strong and able to cope with the colder weather. Weeding is a full-time job but not too bad when it is done every other week. We are also planting out winter lettuce to grow under tunnels that will be covered during the winter.

I’m not thinking of winter today as I write this because it is one of those rare gorgeous summer days we’ve longed for since July. The sun is beaming in through the window of an upstairs room and, looking out, I can see miles of beautiful and peaceful countryside. My view takes in the once busy farm estate called La Bergerie, meaning sheepfold.

The beautiful house was built by a French family about 400 years ago. It’s now in ruins but the walled garden out back and the lawn tennis court in front are both still there and the daffodils and snowdrops still appear every spring.

Cattle now graze the six-acre lawn with its great trees, including a large copper beech, probably sown around the time the house was built, as well as some old oak and beech.

I often think of the gentry of long ago coming through the big entrance gates and driving along the gravelled drive in horse drawn carriages towards the big house where servants awaited them.

Just behind the farm is the double-rail track from Dublin to Cork, with trains travelling to and from every 20 minutes at peak times. This is why this little country road is called La Bergerie Road, as the estate farm stretches right along it.

As well as the inspiration for that little story, I can see down on our garden and the last burst of colour from the flowers in the herbaceous borders makes this a really nice time of year. I can also see up to the vegetable garden where, even though it is a slack time of year, there’s still plenty of work to be done. But the work and the garden can wait for a bit as I’m packing my bags and taking off on a bus tour for a few days.

Hope all my readers have had a few days away as well. Hope to see you all at the Ploughing, that’s only around the corner in our own lovely Laois.

Email me at lilysgarden1@gmail.com CL