Getting there!

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Finally I have sorted out my greenhouse (with lots of help from OH). It’s still part garden shed-ish, but now has my pelargoniums and fuchsias ranged 2-3 deep in pots, still looking very lush. That won’t last, and when they are finally over, I shall cut them back. They usually over-winter pretty well and provide nice big specimens for the next year.

I cut the grass first thing – it was in need of a cut, but I have been busy with various family matters for a couple of weeks so it has had to wait. It was lovely and sunny, though distinctly chilly, and I really enjoyed being in the garden again. I moved a peony which was in the wrong place – not enough sun and, I suspect, planted too deep. I’m hoping it will like it’s new home and provide a few flowers next summer. That would be nice!

While it was still sunny, I had a good look round. I had some surpises. There is quite a lot of nicotiana still flowering, and there are new buds on the fuchsias. I’ll be surprised if they come to much now, though. The polyanthus in the wild area have been flowering quite profusely for a couple of weeks. All the lobelia has been over for more than a month and I removed those from the pots some time ago. The begonias are fantastic, though, both the little ones and the larger ones from corms. They’ll keep going until the frost gets them. I know it is possible to keep the corms and start them off again next year, but I have never tried. The cyclamen I bought recently have been lovely – beautiful, fresh-looking plants. They are supposed to naturalise. I’m sure they will – I have large clumps of cyclamen hederifolium which were originally individual plants acquired over 30 years ago.

There’s still lots of colour out there, and some lovely plants. It just takes a bit more concentration to see it! Autumn leaves are beginning to blur the edges. Some things will need to be cut down although most will be left until spring for the benefit of any wildlife that might eat them, or seek shelter in them. My garden is now going to be pretty messy until next spring, so here are some pictures to remind me of things that were and are to come!

I love the marmalade colours of these chrysanthemums. I bought a tray of six small-looking plants two years ago, having no idea that they would grow into these beauties, over 5 foot tall. I love them.

I bought these penstemons this year – I’ve never had them before. I am looking forward to them gradually increasing. They were in flower when I got them (at a reduced price) and have stayed flowering for weeks.

These are not true primroses, but look nice in the wild area. They started flowering again about three weeks ago. There are about four clumps, and they are all happily blooming away.

These cyclamen have settled in beautifully. I also put some darker pink ones down in the wild area.

I planted these too far in the shade, but still have a few brave flowers showing!

What good doers these are, and what value for money! I shall try overwintering some of them. They deserve it!

More begonias – a little bit rusty round the edges, but they have been gorgeous!

John Waterer never produces many blooms at once, but goes on and on.

I have to watch this – it springs up all over the garden! But in the right place, it’s lovely.

I refreshed this half-basket a few weeks ago with violas – the white bacopa has been in since May. They are very sweet and I look at them every time I go into the house. (Well – not quite every time…!)

Evening Primrose self-seeds merrily in one corner of the garden – just where I like it to be! It suddenly got a new lease of life about ten days ago, which I put down to the sunshine we have had. It is a beautiful yellow and lights up the garden.

Lunaria (such a lovely name!) is another prolific self-seeder. I pull it up if it is in the wrong place, but generally welcome it almost anywhere. This clump was particularly spectacular.

How I love the Boston Ivy! We have it taken down by about 3 feet every couple of years. It used to cover the whole of the back of the house, but died off at the edges after the two really hard winters a couple of years ago. I did wonder if we were going to lose it all, but the central part has remained. Boston Ivy has lovely, small, delicate leaves until it reaches the top of whatever it is climbing. Then it moves into its mature state and produces large leaves. The colour at this time of year is breathtaking – some of the leaves are bright scarlet.

Yes – it’s getting a bit messy! But I have added a lot this year. I shall be interested to see how it survives whatever winter might throw at us. Then next year, I shall see what gaps there are, or if indeed there are any (there have to be – new planting is always a must!) Mind you, this year there are still the tulips to plant, and I was thinking of splitting some of the sedums, and checking if any of the hellebore babies are ready to move, then I want to prune the climbers at the front, and….

• 26 Oct, 2012
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