Glider

At this time of year, many trees will begin to lose leaves from the first flush they put out in spring. The leaves of most trees have a fixed life span and over time they become less efficient at doing what they do through wear and tear, insect attack, wind/sun damage, the build up of non-soluble toxins in the cells that the plant can't remove. Eventually, the leaf just 'wears out'.

These 'first flush' leaves will usually just wither and be shed, but will usually not change into autumnal colours. Most will just turn brown, some will stay green but none will have been subjected to the seasonal changes (particularly cooler temperatures) that triggers the breakdown of chlorophyll.

It's raining in London too, which sucks. I just cut the timber for two more 2m display benches I'm putting up and now it's all wet, I'll have to wait until it dires out again before I can treat it and screw it together.

It certainly has been a strange summer. I'm hoping this odd weather doesn't signal a vicious winter.

Whitepine, re your beech. You could slope the pot by putting a block under one end. The will increase the relative height of the water column in the pot and will really help it to drain better.

Congrats on your new deshojo too.

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