Observations-September-December-Garden Centres.

Garden centres, since I was little have been my very own small escape. If I’m anxious- garden centre. Summer evenings- late night opening at the garden centre. Feeling a bit off- garden centre. Absconding from important life tasks-garden centre.

The thing I like about them is the arrangements of neatness. The lines of violas all waiting for their autumn planting. Giant tubs of bulbs with instructions on how to grow. Lines of greenhouses and sheds all ready to provide you with a new world if you take them home.

There is also the ‘new garden centre’ society that makes them ‘destinations’. The clothing sections, the summer BBQ areas, artisan markets and posh soups.

But to me it’s how they change during the year. Each month a new list of things to do in the garden, new plants to see, the light changes and we start all over again next year.

My favourite garden centre is quite small, deals in plants more than trinkets, it’s high on a hill and you can see the Welsh mountains across from the monkey puzzle tree area. Crows sing to me from the giant conifers at the back and on a clear day I can just about see on tiptoes the River Mersey sparkling in the sun.

To some a trip to a garden centre is a place to visit with no clear idea. Maybe have a cup of tea, buy some chutney think no more about it. Some have hashtags where you can share your day out on Instagram.

My favourite garden centre has none of those things and is strictly business. I like this about it and yet each time I go it’s changed.

The autumn made everything golden, the crows were elsewhere and I could now makes plans for winter colour planting. The blackboard outside said I should.

Here is a collection of various images from September to December at various establishments as the seasons changed.