My garden in November

We’d been putting off collecting the leaves, but on a dry and blue skied day we could put it off no more. We knew it wouldn’t be the only time we’d be collecting leaves, we have a lot of trees and have lived here long enough to know it’s a thankless task. But I’m not sure we’ve left it quite this long before, though from my vantage point on the stone circle it really did look like the leaves were taking over.

MOH and I are a good team in the garden - he started to tackle the leaves, by mowing the ones on the grass and it wasn’t too long before the grass started to re-emerge. Picking up leaves isn’t one of my favourite gardening tasks, but as you can see not doing it really isn’t an option. I have to remember how much leaf mulch we’ll have in years to come.

While MOH tackled that I set about putting the garden furniture away. Usually that goes under cover on the patio nearest the house, but as there’s a chance that MOH will be working on the patio (chipping out the pointing) at some point in the early spring if we’re lucky with the weather. I decided to relocate the garden furniture storage this winter. The stone circle has already been repointed and so it seemed a more natural option.

By the time I’d lugged the wooden table and chairs up the length of the garden - dodging the lawnmower - and then getting them stacked as I wanted, there was much more grass making an appearance. I also got to cover the pizza oven and while MOH was starting to feel pleased with his efforts, we both knew that there was more to do.

These at the back of the garden was just the start. But collecting leaves is hard work, and pretty dull work too. I was starting to hatch another plan.

And while I was doing that I took some time out to snap the agapanthus and the fatsia, which were both looking good even if the agapanthus were just showing their structure rather than any flowers.

And my alternative plan? Here it is - sweeping them all into a corner for the time being! I’m hoping they’re still mostly there.

And as we finished, of course there were more leaves falling. This one I’m sure was just taunting us.

My garden in September

I’ve already shared the October post, and so you’ll not be surprised to see the sunflowers in full bloom. While technically they don’t fit into a ‘my garden’ post I’m including them as they’re so beautiful and because that’s where they ended up! For £3 they were quite a bargain from M&S and have reminded me how much sense it makes to grow sunflowers. Remember the ones that I grew on the allotment? Goodness, that’s five years ago!

There wasn’t a lot of garden activity this month, but the photos showed we had some great weather. It was a month for trimming and tidying up - the pyracantha below, as usual, tried to have its own way and fight back - and the berries were starting to show.

MOH almost pulled this up as a weed, and while it isn’t and he was told just that, it has grown massively from the small plant it was. It’s definitely one to try and split into smaller plants next year, as it’s such a pretty delicate thing.

The small Christmas tree was starting to bush out, hopefully it doesn’t think it’s coming inside this winter - it most certainly isn’t!

The mock orange in the background desperately needs cutting down, but as there’s as much to cut back as will be left that’s not one we’ll tackle ourselves. The cone shaped yew in front of it was one I took the hedge trimmers too, along with what I call the slopey bush right at the front of the picture. Both are a lot smaller than they were when I started, and my arms got a workout too.

MOH started one of those never ending jobs, and that’s the patio. The grout is crumbling and his plan is to replace that. I think he’s realising just how much he’s taken on, as he also wants to clean the black spot off the slabs. He’s started, and even with the best of intentions I think it’ll take a while before he finishes.

But it’ll look great when he has, and will be the perfect place for cocktails. Yes, I’m really not expecting it to be finished before spring!

My garden in October

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a garden update, and I’m really not sure why. Our garden, like any other, requires work at all times and we’re just about keeping up with it. With weekend plans and darker evenings there’s not as much time as we need, but then any gardener is likely to say that.

I decided to try and try the sunflowers which spent a good few weeks on our dining table, the messy greenhouse wasn’t the space for that though and I later added some furry and rotting heads to the compost heap, so maybe my compost will bring some surprises in the future, if I’m lucky.

The small Christmas tree is doing well, and maybe it’s sprucing itself up (sorry pun intended) for its season. Sssh, don’t say anything but it’s staying outside.

One of the discoveries of the ivy is this almost white leafed version. Ivy is usually ripped out of our garden, but this one has permission to stay, as long as it doesn’t misbehave.

You’ll know that our garden is pretty green in colour, but it’s the varieties of green that make it work. The ferns always enjoy the sun and the glossy leaves in the sunlight always look special. You wouldn’t know that most of the ferns in our garden have been rescued from a shady wall, and they’re thriving.

The sedum’s also thrive at this time of year - saving their colour for the later summer and autumn days - and don’t they just look glorious? They will only improve though as the colour darkens.

The dogwoods in pots, which at one point I thought we’d lost, are doing well and playing host to plenty of visitors, and some weeds too.

To end the month there was some pottering - these small cyclamen plug plants have been potted up and have doubled in size, feeling quite at home in the conservatory. Going outside is likely to be a bit of a shock for them, but for the time being I’m happy to have their greenery right by the back door.