What's still good in the garden at the end of the season

Lovely photos
Especially the pretty pansies :o)

I've still got Penstemons, too. They're great plants, aren't they! I must check out my 'Miss Bateman' - it's too dark now. How do you keep your bird friends from wrecking your pansies? I couldn't see a single flower this afternoon on mine - all pecked. I enjoyed your blog - thanks.

It's nice to see things flowering on into the autumn. I enjoyed your blog and seeing the photos.

Nice photo's,& a good blog.

Thank you one and all! The last one is cotinus coggygria, Marguerite (Royal Purple, I think). All the leaves have suddenly turned red in the last couple of days. It is windy now, so I don't suppose they'll hang on much longer.
Spritz, I think sparrows are probably the main pansy wreckers, and I don't have too many, although I may be speaking too soon. They have been seen in the bird bath recently! Or maybe it is because they are the smaller violas and the birds are short-sighted?

I just spotted this blog over Sunday breakfast at the computer and it brought a lump to my throat.

Yesterday, in windy Yorkshire, with possible frost within a week, I cut down and covered my Arundo donax and my 'experimental' brugs that can't get into the greenhouse for crowding. I fleeced my tree fern and I dug up my dahlias which, although they still had a few flowers on, were looking very sad indeed. I dug the sauromatums, amorphophalluses and arisaemas up to store for 6 months and made a note to have a look at the Mirabilis jalapa corms to see if they were worth taking up to try next year or should I start them again? Do I once again risk my young P. canarienis? I left them last year and they were fine. Will my Cox's orange pippins and my Granny Smith's ever fully ripen? Very late this year after an appalling summer. The tender fuchsias have been in the greenhouse for a week as have the other small palms except for C. humilis (that can fend for itself). The baby sarracenias are already potted up but can stay out for another few weeks to encourage dormancy. And so it goes on.

Now I'm wondering what I will find to do until next years big plant-up starts. I guess I'll find something. I usually do.

John.

Sarra ~
One thing I hope you'll do over the winter is keep on adding your interesting, amusing and helpful comments to GoY. :o)

I've noticed you're very helpful with answering the questions section. I still haven't bought that beer for the slugs.
Must be something to do with being TT. :o)

Do we know the name of the pretty blue pansies above ?
Aren't they just gorgeous!
Well done Shirleypoppy on this lovely blog. :o)

TT. As you are tt and so won't be tempted to drink it, in fear of advertising, may I suggest Tesco's own value brand for the slugs. I think they have both bitter and lager and the slimy horrors don't care which you give them, it is the yeast they go for apparently. Because it is very low in alcohol it is very cheap and I don't think the slugs need a premier ale. It is also worth having a few cans in when the in-laws call. They never rush back. LoL.

Sarra ~

I hadn't realised it is the yeast which attracts.

Wow. On GoY I certainly learn lots of new things every day.

Useful advice. I'll know which brand to acquire for slugs and for any other unwelcome visitors. :o)

Sorry TT, no name for the violas - they were just a tray of 6 plants from my local Wyevales, and I threw out the label with the tray!
Oh my, Sarra, your tender things are a whole lot finnickier than mine, which are mainly succulents. No wonder you're worried about the impending winter weather. We'll be lucky if we get enough snow for my granddaughters to make snowballs with down here - and then probably not till Feb/March. What we do get are searing winds from the East in spring, desiccating all in their path.

Where I am Shirleypoppy we get very little snow. In fact in general it is not snow itself that causes damage to half-hardy plants (although I am sure a few of my tender exotics wouldn't like it.) The big danger is a snap frost. I even lost the growing tip from my bay tree, when it was just a babbie, in the first week in May. Good job I wanted a bush not a tree anyway. A lot of exotics like tree ferns and palms are OK with a mild frost once they are established but until they are a bit older it is advisable to make Mrs. Sarra sleep in the greenhouse for a few months to put on the heat if required. This year of course the g.house is so full she will have to sleep just outside it. But I've turned the thermometer round so she can see it from her sleeping bag.

Whoops forget that last bit. I left my last forum after being told that gardening was not a joking matter so would I stop it.

John.

Sarra ~
Every good gardener has a great sense of humour.

Have you checked out FourSeasons latest lovely pictures? Hubby delayed breakfast to get those super photos ~ wandering around the garden in his dressing gown with the belt missing..........

Mrs Sarra ~
Ask for binoculars for Christmas so you can see the greenhouse thermometer from indoors. :o)

Oh yes, I forget to mention sudden and sometimes unseasonably late frosts. Gee, Sarra, you grow 'em tough up there if Mrs. S can sleep OUTSIDE the greenhouse in winter - and how can a gardener without a GSOH keep going through the frustrations that gardening can bring? Can't take myself too seriously at my age, I like growing old disgracefully!!