Columbia Road Market 48

Change is undeniably in the air. Over this last week, the decline of the season has become discernible as the nights have cooled and the dry spell has given way to showers. And even as I walked up the road to the market beneath a sky heavy with clouds, a fresh breeze spiralling out from the river was sending dry leaves scuttling around  the pavements of the East End in the early morning. In Columbia Rd the traders were standing in huddles discussing the chill. No wonder I was seduced by Rudbeckia with its generous deep yellow flowers which confirm Summer has yet a while to run. Over several years I have admired them growing profusely, making an exuberantly gaudy display at the entrance to Haggerston Park as I have passed through on my way to Broadway Market. For just four pounds I bought a healthy specimen of this commonplace hardy perennial, which I have seen thriving in many gardens throughout the neighbourhood, and carried it back to plant in a corner of my garden, now revived by the recent rain, in the hope that it will also grant me some heartening late Summer colour in years to come.