It's either because we are admiring their autumnal colours, have just skidded on their leaves or appear to be on a treadmill of endlessly clearing up their leaves.

It is though an undeniable fact that without trees we would die and our reliance on them has been noted from ancient times.

In fact many early civilisations worshipped trees.

I have often encouraged actively hugging trees, not from any religious significance, but because to do so you have to get close to a tree.

Surprisingly for one thing the bark of each type of tree smells completely different from that of another. Getting close also gives you the opportunity to gaze into the branches, not only appreciating the immense size of some of these trees, but to observe the branch layout of the tree.

That aside, though, it helps us just to stop and meditate for a while on one of the planet's most important air purifying units.

So take some time to appreciate them rather than treat them as an autumnal nuisance.

In the meantime, while the trees continue to be industrious what can we do in the FLOWER BORDER?

Everything is now beginning to look tired and due to our Indian summer many plants will have grown taller than they usually do.

Reduce the height of any plants which are likely to topple over in any winds.

Bedding plants are well past their best in most cases.

Strip the remainder out, replanting with winter pansies, polyanthus, forget-me-nots and sweet Williams.

When preparing the ground for any of the above incorporate a slow acting fertiliser.

Think about including some spring bulbs in your display of spring bedding, interspersing tulips between polyanthus for instance.

In the VEGETABLE GARDEN it's been a strange year.

Sprouts have made good growth without the early caterpillar problem but now they seem to have come back with a vengeance.

The cabbage white caterpillars are easy to spot, but there are some very small tough-skinned green ones I noticed which have invaded right inside the growing points and are almost impossible to detect.

I have also noticed the snails have found their way to the top of all of these plants again, concealing themselves in the apical foliage.

It's been a good year for onions so why not continue the success by planting Japanese onions which will mature through the winter.

In the GREENHOUSE after a tricky summer, too dry and too hot, it's time to bring in those tender perennials which need that extra tender loving care, particularly fuchsias, geraniums, maybe penstemon and some of the less hardy lobelias and salvias.

Either pot them up, or cram them into boxes, just to keep them ticking over until they are either planted out again or cuttings can be taken.

Remember though that this is the time of the year to keep a careful eye on all of those plants you have brought in.

Changes in temperature will result in plants defoliating and if those leaves are not cleared away regularly then the damp autumn days will soon use them as a base for fungal diseases.

SUMMARY

FLOWER BORDER

Cut down plants

Plant spring bedding

Incorporate bulbs

VEGETABLE GARDEN

Check sprouts and greens

Look out for pests

Plant onions

GREENHOUSE

Bring in tender plants

Take cuttings

Watch out for disease

GARDENS TO VISIT: Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

I THINK we all love the colours of autumn, even though in many ways it can be quite sad.

We admire individual plants in our garden which put on a good show during this month - a sort of final 'fling'.

But what about taking time to visit Westonbirt Arboretum - a whole garden bursting with colourful foliage.

It's famous for its numerous glades planted with thousands of Japanese maples and conifers and looks magical about the third week of the month.

At the last count there were over 18,000 numbered trees and 17 miles of path.

The trick is to phone when you are planning to go and ask what the colour is like. That way you see it at its best.

Westonbirt Arboretum is three miles south west of Tetbury on the A433, five miles north east of the junction with A46.

Telephone 01666 880220

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

THERE are so many good colours in the foliage during this month it is always extremely difficult to pick a favourite.

There are though not that many plants you can grow on a building without doing any damage to the fabric, but parthenocissus has to be an exception.

Good cover through summer, stunning autumn colour, then it almost disappears against brickwork through winter, only to re-emerge in the early spring.

There are a few varieties of parthenocissus, so read up on them before choosing.

It is slow growing to become established, but well worth the effort.

RECIPE FOR THE MONTH

ONIONS are older than recorded history and have featured as a symbol of perfection.

The Egyptians carried their veneration of the onion so far that priests forbade people from eating them.

In Britain onions have always been associated with warding off evil.

How about a recipe from Syria? Onion bread, served warm with hard boiled eggs, black olives and salad.

ONION BREAD

Ingredients

1 small onion finely chopped

3 tablespoons olive oil

8ozs self-raising flour

.5 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

.5 teaspoon dried thyme

Milk

METHOD

Method

Gently fry the onions and olive oil until they turn transparent

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl

Add the thyme and mix well with a spoon

Make a well in the centre and add fried onions and sufficient water to make a fairly soft dough

Turn out on to a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is elastic and no longer sticks to your hands

Place in a 1lb loaf tin and leave in a warm place for about an hour to rise.

Brush the top with milk and bake at 180 degrees for about 80 minutes until golden on top and a skewer comes out clean

Remove from the tin and leave to cool on a rack

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.