September In Paxton And The Borders

September is definitely an autumn month here in The Borders. “Indian summers” are rare, despite it often being a bright month.  There is a clear drop in temperatures as we hit September, almost as if a gauge has been turned down. This year, the surprising heat of August’s end has given way to much cooler temperatures within a matter of days. The sun is not quite as high in the sky and its warmth is waning. The sunbathing we did only four days ago now seems incomprehensible. The bikini and shorts of the end of last month have been replaced by long trousers and an extra layered jacket when cycling.

However, the angle of the sun in September leads to a fair few golden, peaceful days early on, and there are certainly plenty of lovely days to experience in this transitional month. It is definitely no longer a summer month up here but many of summer’s characteristics can still make an appearance, particularly at the beginning of the month - warm afternoon sunshine, deep blue skies and long shadows. The heather on the hillsides is just starting to bloom with an array of purple/pink hues.

That said, a week into September and it seems to have become autumn overnight - temperatures have seriously dropped, particularly noticeable in early morning and late night, and the lighting up time seems to move on about forty minutes with each passing night!

As the month progresses, the bales harvested in August are collected up and often stacked in gravity-defying towers at the edge of the fields. Grain is processed too, and a continual noise comes from the farm’s siloes. August into September is a busy time in the fields and farmyards. Before too long, half way through the month, the straw is collected up and stored away, and the fields now get ploughed and sown. 

Our garden rowan trees are now showing off their bright orange berries, which is a regular sign of autumn’s arrival, as is the always pleasurable mid-month blackberry picking. A winter of monthly blackberry and apple crumbles follows.

Very surprisingly, the 20th and 21st were as hot as midsummer, which was quite unusual. 

By the last week of the month the swallows have suddenly gone and the leaves have started to fall. Autumn is here.