FRUITS AND FLOWERS

Well, not quite autumn yet but plenty of fruits to harvest, some just to enjoy like the guelder rose.

Elsewhere we have plums and pears, apples and damsons, and one big marrow. Now, I know marrow is a Marmite thing - you love it or hate it. For me it brings back memories of childhood on the farm with, once a year, a big marrow stuffed with lamb mince (probably mutton) and baked.

There are hips on the rosa rugosa and the rosa rubrifolia, the latter originally from Wormleighton Manor in Warwickshire.

The insect life continues to thrive, butterflies, dragonflies and bees.

So you know when you are getting older when your 15 year old grandson comes to visit and you have to reach up to hug him - and I am 5ft 10in.

Autumn definitely here - we have now picked 10 pounds of blackberries from the lane side. 

I have raked and seeded the flower meadow today, then lightly watered it. Part has been done a la Prince Charles as good friends brought me some seed from Highgrove. So I have carefully used that on a separate area and we will see if his seed mix or mine is best.

Talking of insects - well I am now, this is a Robin's pincushion on a wild rose. It is a type of gall. Also called the Bedeguar Gall it is caused by Diploepsis rosae, a small gall wasp. 

I have been pruning the first of the Brachyglottis (Senecio bush) and in the depths found this old nest. Only another five bushes to go. Hope they are easier as this one was full of stinging nettles and, no, I did not spot them in time. On the way back from the bonfire I was accosted by Mr Pheasant who waited as I gave him half a plum and some sunflower seed. One dramatic display in the garden at the moment is the white willowherb in full seed.

Flowers still - sweet peas, white Japanese anemones and dahlias. There are some barer areas so we went to the garden centre but there was nothing worth buying but a convolvulus cneorum  and that was £38!!

 

Damsons nearly ripe but we still have some from last year (and damson gin). Perhaps give some away.

I  thought there was nothing on this garden video - then . . .

Some of the leaves are turning and not yet September 😟😞.

AUTUMN IS EARLY

 Or so it seems, cool, unsettled, windy wet weather, blackberries ready, rowanberries on the mountain ash - can summer be done already?

Down by the pond something stirs, it is me, rather it is I, raking the grass on the wildflower area into rows ready for collection and disposal.

In the pond the waterlily is flowering again after its mauling by the pond clear out. One or two dying leaves are changing into wonderful colours.

The yellow flag are now in full pod - great green fat things ready to spread where I do not want them. As they are by the stream I always wonder whether the gardeners lower down are now beset by iris plants.

Looking upon at the banking above I love the different shapes the leaves have - no flowers now but still such a variety.

Tree peony at the top, liquidambar left and something that has been on earth for millions of years below - gingko. Further up the cardoons are almost in flower.

And we have flowers - the orange day lily, here with yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's bloom. 

The alstroemerias I dug up are not all gone and flowering, their red colour difficult to use in combination with other plants. Perhaps I should just accept the blast they give. However they are next to pink Japanese anemones, not an ideal match.

To the woods and we find a gatekeeper butterfly,

then two small white butterflies upside down procreating before laying their eggs on the broccoli.

We have a few gladioli in a sort of bronze colour I rather like but R does not. I seem to remember they were an extra freebie with an order.

S the gardener has been and cleared away the grass from the meadow, and, put in new pots and wire for the raspberry canes. I have now tied these in.

Here is an example of a non-arrangement - go to garden, cut anything of bright colour and stuff in a vase, no plan, no balance - too much white on left - etc etc but pow!

The lawn needs mowing but it is WET and just clogs the mower so not yet.

This is the wild barberry, Berberis vulgaris which grows in the back hedge, here in fruit. 

The berries are edible and rich in vitamin C.  In the past the berries were known as pipperages and were frequently used in making jam, tart pickles and jellies. Barberry is reported to have many health benefits due to the compound Berberine, which apparently improves heart health, stimulates the immune system and regulates blood sugar amongst other qualities.

Not tried it though.

So it continues damp. Sitting in the living room I watch a stoat carrying a kit in its mouth by the back of its neck cross to the woodshed. Then she does the same with another. Must be moving house somewhere drier?

IN THE HIATUS, FLYING FLOWERS

 In August there is often a hiatus in the garden where things are either over or not yet coming. On the trees here the rowan has berries - in early August! The seasons seem awry. 

We have had a lot of low pressure and heavy showers which flatten plants I have not staked etc.

In the veg garden we are harvesting broccoli (Broccoli cheese tonight as no cauliflowers.) 

The first September raspberries are ready and I have pruned out the old wood from the black currants and trimmed back the side shoots on the red currants. The Conference pear is loaded with fruit and I am nurturing a secret marrow.

In pruning the red currants I came across a bird's nest I had not noticed when picking the fruit. It is probably a goldfinch nest though I had hoped it might be that of a long-tailed tit - but no lichen on the outside.

The insects are struggling with the heavy rain. This half drowned bee in a cosmos flower was given a little glucose to help it revive.

Once the sun comes out the cosmos Purity shines as does the self sown feverfew.

In the shaded area under the big sycamore the white honesty has self sown also forming a carpet of leaves. Some will need transplanting for next year as they are biennial.

Monday - the so-called flower meadow will need cutting soon and there are plenty of yellow rattle seed heads for next year so it will parasitise the grass roots and keep the grass down a bit letting the flowers dominate. The flowers have been there this year but it is clear that it is going to take a few years to properly establish what I want - a hay meadow. 

R has been dead heading the alchemilla,  I mowed lawns and found a willow tree snapped off at base so had to move that. 

The roe buck is getting inquisitive sniffing the camera.

Also badgers trundling through, one thin one, one fat one.

The petunias in the pot outside the kitchen are a mass of flowers though now I wish I had more than one colour.

One flower that I love is the masterwort or astrantia. the delicacy of the petals and stamens and the gentle shades of pink and green are a delight.

Friday - so time to strim the meadow grass (well Sam did it) and leave the cut stuff for a day or two before removing so seed can settle. The area has been scalped as yellow rattle needs contact with the soil. More meadow seed ordered.

Weeding, R cutting back catmint - we should get regrowth though the oriental poppies regrowth is very poor.

Sam (gardener) thought he saw a RED squirrel in the big tree but I think it was probably just another grey. Still, we live in hope. 

My hands are tingling from pulling out nettles - should have worn gloves.

Lots of butterflies now - small copper, speckled wood, painted lady, gatekeeper, large white, and these four - small tortoiseshell, small white (caterpillars on the broccoli), red admiral and peacock. There are also commas around.

At first I thought this might be a fritillary but it is, of course, The Wall butterfly - found by the pond.

Flowers with wings? I have just looked out the window and the breeze is blowing the feathery seeds off the white rosebay like a snowstorm.

Cup of tea and a biscuit.