October Garden

As winter approaches, clocks go back at the weekend, the garden takes on an autumn tint. I have been doing some pruning but the Viburnum at the back is too tall for me to cope with, so I'm getting some help with the higher, thicker branches.

The Hydrangea has put on a good show but is now fading gently.

The roses are past their best especially on this rather damp morning.

 I picked the last of the tomatoes at the beginning of the month and the green ones soon ripened on being in the warm house. In total I had 6 kilos 680 gms 14 lbs 11 ozs. The largest weighed 250 gms. Luckily I had no blight this year.

September Garden

Harvest time has arrived. The tomatoes are ripening well and I have been blessed with no blight this year so they are able to ripen outdoors instead of having to be picked green and ripening inside.

There is also a berry harvest for the birds on the Cotoneaster -which attracts the Blackbirds and occasionally Redwings and Fieldfares. The Anemones will soon be developing fluffy seedheads which attract Gold finches.

   There are still some flowers blooming, I deadheaded the lupins and have been rewarded by a fresh flush of blooms.

Unfortunately I haven't been lucky with my Spinach beet which the slugs think was intended for them.

August Garden

Some of the early flowers are past their best but this Pelargonium near the conservatory continues to put on a good show, accompanied by Marjoram which attracts the bees and butterflies.

The Acanthus Spinosus (Bear's Breeches) is in a rather too shaded position and has developed mildew.

Japanese Anemones are in various places around the garden.......

......and the Lacecap Hydrangea is blooming well. This was a cutting from my uncle's garden and must be twenty years old now.

July Garden

This side of the garden is looking good ( we won't mention the weeds and overgrowth on the other side.)

 The border in the front garden is colourful as usual. Originally a large Leylandii hedge occupied this space, needing constant trimming, so I had it removed.

 Most of the roses have finished their first flush of bloom, but Bonica is still in flower, unfortunately with no scent.

And the Marmande tomatoes are starting to set. Last year's record was one of 275 grams (10ozs).

June Garden

As it is June the roses are in full bloom. This is 'Gertrude Jekyll' on the trellis, Albertine on the house wall.

 

This small area is very shady due to neighbours trees. However, some pruning has let a little more light in and foxgloves, welsh poppies and aquilegia have self sown quite happily.

The newly planted area is filling out nicely, should be good next year.

May Garden

Just made it, it is June tomorrow although it doesn't feel like it, cold and damp.
Over all the garden is looking good, the Clematis Montana putting on a magnificent show as usual.

 The newly planted areas are flourishing although it will take a while for them to fill out.

I'm continuing to fight a battle with the ivy and also the bindweed, very sneaky bindweed, I can clear an area go back a few hours later and more has popped up.

Had a pleasant surprise while clearing ivy to find a Clematis, Etoile Violette, which I hadn't seen for years, still surviving in an overgrown corner. It is going to get some tlc from now on.

April Garden

I've delayed this post as things are changing rapidly in the garden at the moment. My two camellias are blooming well. This one is nearly finished.

This is a little later and still in full bloom.

The daffodils have done well but I really must plant more in the autumn. On the left the Peony is starting to grow. It should be in flower next month.

I am slowly clearing areas of the garden. This space was occupied by a large Buddleia which had self sown, loved by the butterflies but not by me so it had to go.and the space replanted.  

And, the frogs did arrive and produced lots of spawn which is now wriggling tadpoles.

March Garden

Although, looking at the wider picture, not much has changed since last month, on a smaller scale things are starting to move.

 

 The snowdrops are still blooming, these are doubles.

The hellebores are also putting on a good show, joined by crocus 'Pickwick'

planted last Autumn. As you can see I still have plenty of parsley.

So far I haven't seen a frog in the pool but I'm sure they will be arriving any day soon.

February Garden

Nothing much has changed since last month.

The camellia, however, is showing promise of blooms to come with fat buds..

Flower of the month is the Iris Unguicularis which has been flowering since November.

Snowdrops

The first snowdrops are out today. I wasn't sure how these would do as they were planted as bulbs and snowdrops do better planted 'in the green', however they seem to be growing well.

 

January Garden

I'm hoping to show monthly pictures of my garden thoroughout the year.It has been sadly neglected recently due to various reasons but hopefully I'm getting it back on track.

This is the most neglected area, the pool and surroundings.

I've done a little work on this side, mainly clearing a large clump of nettles and planting bulbs.

Flower of the month is Viburnum × bodnantense 'Dawn'. The scent is overwhelming and will fill a whole room.

Charity knitting

I may have been neglecting this blog recently but my charity knitting has continued. These are a couple of jumpers for boys, I feel the bigger children are often forgotten, everyone likes to knit for babies.

and here is a jumper for a little girl.

A jacket and leggings set for a toddler.
Loving Hands, the charity I knit for send clothing to Operation Orphan and also to Syria where warm clothing is much needed during the winter.

Tomatoes 2

The tomatoes are beginning to ripen. This is the largest so far, 200 gms and there are at least two more even larger. I must admit the flavour could be better. The best flavoured tomatoes I had were the year I was ill and they didn't get much watering and feeding. The flavour was superb.

Tomatoes

The tomatoes are continuing to grow to enormous size, notice the pound coin. Unfortunately most are remaining stubbornly green.

The courgettes haven't done so well, this is the first to reach a useful size. I'm just hoping that the good weather we are enjoying at the moment will last for a while longer.

Intruders

Someone got into my garden the other night and managed to break off the top of the fence while climbing over. There were also some plants trampelled down. Luckily nothing was taken and my tomatoes weren't touched, that would have upset me! Talking of tomatoes, the first one is starting to show a blush of red. I began to think that they would stay green for ever.

Knitting

Here are some completed projects which will be given to charity.

First a couple of Elizabeth Zimmermann February baby jackets, the pink one still awaiting buttons. I also used a different lace pattern for this one, slightly less open.

Then two linen stitch scarves using up scraps of DK yarn.

Bird Table

This Bird table has been lying in pieces for quite a while awaiting assembly. I'm afraid that I don't get along with screw drivers, I'm more at home with knitting needles. However I plucked up my courage this morning and got to work with assorted pieces of wood and screws and this is the result, which so far is standing, for how long I wouldn't like to guess. The Buddleia on the right has outgrown its allotted space, so once the butterfly season is over it is going to have to be removed. This, I think, is a job for professionals

Lunch

Out for lunch to a friend's yesterday.Two of the party were celebrating birthdays in the next few days,so of course we had to have a cake.

Ignored

City Photo Blog is still ignoring me. I've managed a photo each day so far on my Wolverhampton Daily Photo Blog and find it very useful for getting out and about.

It has been pouring with rain all day and almost uprooted my tomatoes. However I've managed to rescue and restake them. As you can see the tomatoes are swelling nicely although still very green.