Season's End

What a happy blog. A contented gardenener with a happy population and all have enjoyed our exceptional summer. The ivy berries and Fatsia japonica fruits will be snapped up by the birds. Your pond is looking very good.

Lovely to see lots still in flower Mel..it's hard to believe it's mid November,isn't it? Same here too,I might get out and take the last pics of mine today..before the temps drop sharply this coming week :o(...

Lovely pics Mel . . . I like your Sedum, and the lovely yellow/gold foliage in the photo below: Kolkwitzia (beauty bush)?? Maybe not! We've just had one frost, and the birds are emptying the feeders at speed.

Now looking forward to our log fire at tea time :))

I enjoyed your blog, and seeing all the photos of your plants :o) I hope the weather next week won't be as bad as predicted, so that things will continue to grow for a bit longer.

You are right it has been a good year, all coming to an end now, soon be Christmas and then we can all look forward to what we hope will be a beautiful spring. I am so looking forward to seeing it all awaken again. :O) I too still have roses trying to hang on in there. lol. some struggle more than others, but we have now had a couple of frosts so things are fading fast hear in the east of the country. Not looking forward to the cold blasts which are predicted for next week though. Keep warm and cosy :O)

Thanks for the comments!

I am pleased to see the pond clear again, Scotsgran, but I shan't be spending much time observing it now... I am content with the garden - there's always more to do, but it would be no fun if there were no improvements to be considered!

It certainly is hard to realise how late in the year it is, Bloomer. It is still mild here - not sure that'll be true for much longer.

It's not Kolkwitzia, Sheila, and I can't for the life of me remember what it is! It has green foliage with pinkish flowers - I heard one gardening guru say she always cut the flowers off as soon as they appear because they clash!!! The sedum is just great - it romps away, and is so lovely from the first appearance of the leaves right through until it turns rusty brown. I love it (so do the butterflies).

I'm glad you enjoyed the blog, Hywel. I think you've probably begun your hibernation at just the right time, although we are usually very fortunate with the local weather. I don't think I'll be doing much more gardening now, though I must get those tulips in!

I intend to keep cosy, Barbara! We are off to our daughter's in Paisley for next weekend. Looking forward to seeing them, don't know what the weather will be like. She has just phoned me on her way home from Glasgow (she goes in to the University on Sunday pm) and says it's really cold - and wet - and windy!!!

I have to confess I start getting a little tingle at the thought of Christmas around about now. I'll be making the Advent Wreath in under a fortnight. When I make it, I really can't believe it's a year since the last one!

Thanks Susanne . . . some kind of Spiraea?? (spelling doesn't look right, but I checked Goypedia!)

We have unusually warm weather here, too, as you probably know, Melchi. Yes, this year was good in many ways, however, the summer was the hottest I ever remember.
Your garden is lovely and very natural.

P.S. I planted white parrot tulip bulbs today and tommorrow I will maybe make some last snaps from my garden, too. You inspired me.

Yes Sheila - Spiraea! A strange shrub, the colours are a bit odd. It looks really nice now, though.

Thank you, Katarina. I'm glad I inspired you! It's interesting to see how many things grow at a time we wouldn't expect to see them. I must bring the last couple of fuchsias in - we have a cold snap predicted!

That's great!

Hiya Mel, yours seems to be a blog I missed ! I am missing notifications about blogs on my "favourite" list. Just catching up now ! I love your little garden. It looks so natural. Is that a tiny pond in the last picture? Do you find the water goes green in the summer and what is it in ? Because we haven't room for a pond, I am looking for ideas to have something for a wild life pond.

Hi Rose, thank you - good to hear from you! The water is in a half-barrel (I confess it's actually a plastic one, but very realistic). I had to refill it a couple of years ago and since then it has been very green, although no stringy algae like it had when I first started it years ago. Now that it is clear, I am hoping it will stay that way. I have lots of oxygenating plants in it. I am no expert! I remember Charlie Dimmock saying that a pond usually becomes clear after its second Spring. I also have an old baby bath sunk into the ground under the trees at the bottom of the garden. The frogs love it. Although I have to remove leaves regularly, the water is always completely clear.

(If you like natural gardens, have a look at my blog "My sister's garden - a Summer blog")

Thanks for that, Mel. Its given me a few ideas. I have seen your sisters blog and its lovely ! I bet you love visiting her!

:-))