Category Archives: Gardens

apples and plums

Posted on by
Reply

It’s a bonus year; the plum that turned out to be an apple fruited for the first time (see The approach of Autumn) and the plum that we planted to replace this also fruited. In fact it overdid it and I should have stripped half of the plums off in early summer. We have had several colander’s full already.

Victoria plum

Victoria plum

The weather has jumped from August straight into October, with gales, hailstorms and temperatures barely in double figures. The remaining tomatoes are very unhappy.

Last week while I was having a writing hiatus, it was too miserable to work outside, so I started ambitious insulating projects in the house. However a break in the clouds sent me out and I spent some spare energy taming an old Forsythia hedge. I may have overdone this a trifle, but it was completely covering the bed beneath. I have to admit it is looking very unsightly now. Never mind, it will get up and go again next spring.

Forsythia tamed

Forsythia tamed

The dwarf Blenheim Orange that we planted several years ago to replace another one (a giant 60-year-old hollow tree with mistletoe, but inclined to drop branches), is now really established. It’ll be another month before the fruit is truly ripe. I know because I ate them non-stop as I was waiting for Eleanor’s birth. Happy days!

Apple Blenheim Orange

Apple Blenheim Orange

The approach of Autumn

Posted on by
8

A week ago I was depressed at the idea of the end of summer, today I am cheered by the approaching autumn. I have planted broccoli and spinach and the vegetable garden still looks amazingly orderly. DSCN4246The potatoes plants were all zapped by ants so we only had one colander full. The sweet peas fried in the heatwave, but everything else has been OK. The leeks are growing and there are plenty of runner and french beans, tomatoes, courgettes and salad to come.

The maples are beginning to turn.

Acer palmatum Sangukaku

Acer palmatum Sangukaku

From now on until leaf drop they provide me with almost daily excitement. Another happy event is the first fruit on the apple tree (sold to us four years ago as a plum!) We have no idea what sort of apple this is, so it has been a long wait. They look on the small side, but I like the green/orange colour, as I’m not a fan of red apples. I pulled off a tiny one and ate it today.DSCN4250

 

 

 

 

It has a lovely scent and is thin-skinned and crisp, but with only two tiny bites it was difficult to assess the flavour. Any suggestions about what they might be?

We still have martins feeding young, there have been at least three broods. I hope they have not left it too late to raise them before the cold weather arrives. I made a brave attempt to take a photo of them feeding.

House martins feeding

House martins feeding

Wineberry bliss

Posted on by
2

Today, just as I did aged five in my grandparent’s garden, I crammed my mouth full of wineberries. These bushes are the offspring of those same wineberries that I ate so many, many years ago. They seed freely so I have them all over the garden. The young stems are reddish and almost furry, but they become greener and very prickly as they age.

Japanese wineberries

Japanese wineberries

You will never see the berries sold commercially, they are too small and sticky to pick, preserve and travel, but there is nothing more blissful than to fill your mouth with them. In fact I think I will have to go out for a midnight feast after writing this.

Happy Hibiscus

Posted on by
5

Three to four years ago we planted a small hibiscus hedge. Each year the plants have struggled and flower buds have dropped off or never formed. This year, after gaining a bed beside it, and some extra sunshine, it has decided to give us a splendid show and is beginning to look like a hedge.

Hibiscus syriacus Hamabo

Hibiscus syriacus Hamabo

IMG00418-20130828-1907 IMG00420-20130828-1908

Hydrangea paniculata in one year and garden works

Posted on by
1

We bought this a year ago and were impressed by its growth in its first season.

DSCN3271

This year, it really decided to get up and go.

DSCN4205DSCN4208_2

We have now re-sealed the big wooden shed around its base – a job that has been waiting for nearly ten years! We have relaid the wobbly bricks in front of said shed and repainted both bay windows on the front of the house.

It can rain tomorrow if it wants.

Desert island lily

Posted on by
Reply

These unassuming oriental lilies are scenting the air for about ten feet in all directions. They create an atmosphere you could willingly drown in. I found tasks in that corner of the garden all afternoon, it acts on me like catmint on cats. It’s my choice for a desert island lily.

DSCN4202

Nature always wins

Posted on by
2

 

The pink hydrangeas at the bottom of this picture were blue when I bought them and have flowered blue for the last three years  – a great combination with the orange lilies. I shall have to give them some strong medicine before next year.

DSCN4194

Rather pleased with the artichoke harvest. I know they are very small, but I am hoping to cook them and eat the hearts. I cropped the first runner beans yesterday and we are eating french beans too.

DSCN4188

 

Heat wave good; heat wave bad

Posted on by
Reply

The lilies are opening and the air is heady. The lawn is brown and crisp underfoot and the lettuces are a withered heap every evening, no matter how much water I give them.DSCN4171DSCN4175DSCN4176

The rhododendrons, that I am foolish enough to grow, are limp in their pots and the underground rainwater harvester has run out.

DSCN4169

On the other hand we have finally tackled the failed seal round the bottom of the big shed/garage. We raked out all the rotten wood and there has been enough serious heat to really dry out the timbers. I have started to refill with fresh sealant (including, I notice, my shirt). This sealant, once dry, is proof against sun, rain, rot, mice, cats, goats and probably acts of god. We shall see.

DSCN4177

It has been so hot in the middle of the day, that I have stayed in the cool and finished the revised draft of my book of Far East POW memoirs and letters. Tackling the index has left me cross-eyed and may require a week’s repose.