A week ago I was depressed at the idea of the end of summer, today I am cheered by the approaching autumn. I have planted broccoli and spinach and the vegetable garden still looks amazingly orderly. 
The potatoes plants were all zapped by ants so we only had one colander full. The sweet peas fried in the heatwave, but everything else has been OK. The leeks are growing and there are plenty of runner and french beans, tomatoes, courgettes and salad to come.
The maples are beginning to turn.
Acer palmatum Sangukaku
From now on until leaf drop they provide me with almost daily excitement. Another happy event is the first fruit on the apple tree (sold to us four years ago as a plum!) We have no idea what sort of apple this is, so it has been a long wait. They look on the small side, but I like the green/orange colour, as I’m not a fan of red apples. I pulled off a tiny one and ate it today.
It has a lovely scent and is thin-skinned and crisp, but with only two tiny bites it was difficult to assess the flavour. Any suggestions about what they might be?
We still have martins feeding young, there have been at least three broods. I hope they have not left it too late to raise them before the cold weather arrives. I made a brave attempt to take a photo of them feeding.
House martins feeding
Green Writing Room 
What a smashing garden you have! We are looking at all our clevias getting flowers which just shows how mild our winter has been. They don’t like frost. The daffodils are now wilting but next in line are the tulips.
I am envying you your spring – though this will be one of the benefits of blogging across the world – we will get to enjoy your spring as well as look forward to ours. I have requested a bulb feast for my approaching birthday, I never fail to be excited by planting bulbs.
They appear to be Fuji apples. Delightful flavor, juicy and crisp… You are fortunate!
How wonderful! I have had a look at pics online and I really think you might be right. Thank you, I didn’t know where to start looking.
I am pretty sure they are Fujis. And if you bake, using Fuji apples instead of Granny Smith’s give the pie a lighter flavor. You’ll also want to cut back on the sugar and a touch on the cinnamon. 🙂 If you’re going to toss them, toss them my way. How good is your arm? lol
Thanks for the tip, though we are likely to munch them straight from the tree. Maybe next year there will be enough for the pot. I don’t think my arm is up to lobbing them across the Atlantic – sorry.
How frustrating to plant a plum and have it turn out an apple! You seem to be taking it well, though. 🙂
I didn’t take it well to start with. I glumped at it in disbelief for a year or two before detaching the label reading ‘Victoria plum’. I finally moved it a couple of winters ago and all the blossom the following spring was frosted off. So this year’s apples have been long anticipated. It is a great comfort that are good ones.