GINA PARKINSON finds there is still plenty of life in the garden as the first mists arrive.

WE woke to heavy mist and the Minster view from my son's window was shrouded in grey. It is the beginning of October and autumn is here after the longest, warmest and driest summer we have had for a long time.

The garden is damp and leaves covered in droplets of moisture; hedges are clothed in jewelled webs that stretch over the branches and tremble at the slightest movement.

Even at this time of year summer bedding will continue to flower with hardy specimens such as nasturtiums only giving up when their fleshy leaves and stems are felled by the first frosts.

The nasturtiums in our garden are self-seeded, none have been planted by me for several years, and we have a mixture of neat, variegated varieties and rampant climbers.

Depending on where they turn up, the latter plants will sprawl over shrubs or collapse onto the lawn; but I like them best when they germinate near a wall. Here they attach themselves to any support they can find and hug the bricks as they send out long stems covered in large rounded leaves and bright orange and yellow flowers.

The only trouble with allowing nasturtiums to self-seed is, I have found, the eventual loss of the dark, rich-coloured specimens which need to be replaced every so often. Species include Tropaeolum majus 'Cherry Rose Jewel' with semi-double deep cherry rose blooms, 'Empress of India' with velvety crimson flowers and dark foliage and 'Mahogany Jewel' with deep mahogany red semi-double flowers.

A pink-flowered cosmos planted during the summer is at its best at the moment after spending the past few months developing bushy foliage with disappointingly few flowers.

Now it is tall and strong with dozens of large blooms and many buds to take their place as they fade. Its sheltered position in partial shade by a warm brick wall should give it a good chance of continuing for a little longer.

It is interesting to note that a white flowered variety bought and planted at the same time finished blooming in mid September. It was put in full sun where flowers soon covered the plant in July and August during which time its pink cousin was building up strength for a later display.

Updated: 18:07 Friday, October 03, 2003