Looking back what a strange summer we had the perennials really struggled in the heatwave during July and August and I have Foxgloves actually flowering today 7th October!!
But the leaves are changing and with the shorter days we’ve had our 1st frost last night. I’ve still got some flowers hanging on and enjoying the autumn sun. rudbekia, sedums, asters, Nerine, roses, Helianthus, japanese anemones and the rose hips are looking wonderful and the rowan berries have already been stripped from the tree but the pyracantha & callicarpa berries are bright and colourful. What a crop of grapes this year… although bitter to taste so assuming they are wine grapes after looking at home made wine recipe and equipment needed I decided it was easier just to leave the grapes for the birds and buy a bottle of wine from the supermarket!
Managed to get my lawn mowed last week… it did suffer over the summer but did recover without any additional irrigation. The Virginia Creeper has all of a sudden turned magical colours looking wonderful on my North facing Wall. When I can get into my big border in front of the wall I will continue to train along the wires the grape vine & climbing rose.
I’ve a little project to do over the autumn/ winter to replace the path to a new seating area under the grapevine just through my living willow arch… always like something to do over the winter months. Also a gate to site on the boundary of the field for visitors to enter through at my NGS Open Day Sunday 26th May 2019…I will be planting some more boundary whips…. rosa rugosa, dog woods (Cornus) just to form a natural barrier between my garden and the field without obstructing the lovely open view.
What a super harvest of apples and pears this year the trees were laden. Following the 1st harvest of strawberries the other soft fruit suffered with the drought although I managed to pick lots of plump wild brambles so lots of jams and chutneys made for Hook Gardening Club Fundraising
But in the mean time the sun is shining is and it mild so ….. a lovely wander around my garden is in order and appreciate the autumn colours.
