greentapestry : End Of Month View ~ September 2013

Tuesday 1 October 2013

End Of Month View ~ September 2013


Making his entrance stage left is our water feature who was mentioned in August's EOMV. Huck has sat outside to the left of our front door for many years now. His body parts are concrete but we thought he would look better painted and he has in fact just been made presentable again. His poor hands were showing signs of severe wear and tear and the paint disguises a couple of partially missing fingers. His head had been in receipt of more recent tlc and we were both in accord that the green deposits are in keeping with his character. In theory the barrel should have disintegrated some years ago. At various stages it has had rubber ducks and artificial water lilies floating in it, been home to a dim night light, has spouted flourescent coloured water and at one point a misty like spray floated above the water. For now though he is unadorned. The trickle of water makes a comforting noise by day but is an absolute xxxxxx when we have got into bed at night and have realised that we have left him on.

Anyway I digress - September has slithered out of reach and what has been going on? Not much on the gardening front. The earlier part of the month was rather grotty weather wise and progress has been hampered by the fact that I've been away for three weekends in a row (a most unsusual scenario. I seem to have stalled somewhat so will need to fit a lot into October to catch up with what I would like to do.

Giving me pleasure in the garden this month has been my newly purchased anemone 'White Swan' which came home with me from the Southport Flower Show. Most unusually the back view of the flowers is just as attractive as the front ~


It's sister 'Dreaming Swan' appeared on the scene this year and plants were for sale at the Malvern Autumn Show ~

I decided that I prefer the single petals of 'White Swan' so my swan will continue to swim solo.

In the greenhouse my early September sowings have germinated so I've now got seedlings of orlaya grandflora, a dianthus (name presently slipping mind), nicotiana mutablis, briza maxima and tragopogan (salsify) and a pale pink foxglove to get through the winter. Persicaria orientalis and a clematis (again name slipping mind) have still to show. The last cucumber has dropped off and there are but a handful of tomatoes left to pick.

At the allotment all the apples bar 'Sunset' have been picked, the beans are finally on their last legs whilst raspberry 'Polka' has been the star of the month. Lots of big, sweet berries to nibble on when I'm working. There have also been a few strawberries on the planted this year 'Albion' plants but I'm still to be convinced about their taste. The courgettes are still going although production has slowed down whilst the' Black Futsu' squashes may still come good. Late last week I lifted the bed of 'Pink Fir Apple' potatoes which have now come home where they are drying out for a few days before going into storage. A much better harvest than 2012. The cold spring delayed me from planting them until early May which had the advantage of not having to worry about frost damaging emerging leaves. By the time the foliage showed there was little risk of frost and if had been predicted it would have been easy to cover the foliage. I think that I will plant late in the future.

Earlier in the month himself provided muscle to clear one of three areas on the plot that was still in need of sorting. Bark was spread, paths laid and three little temporary beds have been created. Now just two more patches to tame.

September plant purchases - one or two plant purchases were made at the Malvern Autumn Show this weekend. I came home with a variegated leaved strawberry which I've had before but lost over the years. It's a great little ground cover plant for shady spots. I also bought three of those little clematis plants that you often come across at shows. My purchases were 'Duchess of Albany', montana 'Warwickshire Rose' and ''Alionushka' - somewhat of a pink theme going on. A small corm of crocosmia 'George Davidson' from Trecanna Nursery came home in a little brown paper bag. A bargain at a £1 it hopefully will bulk up next year. I was also delighted to see 'The Garlic Farm' at the show - garlic for planting duly purchased and Pennard Plants were also present - 'Jermor' shallots for autumn planting purchased. Oh and I bought a grass earlier in the month - panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'. The bulb order was sent off in September so it looks as if October will be a busy month.

Thanks as always to Helen over at 'The Patient Gardener's Weblog' who came up with the excellent idea of an EOMV. Off in a few minutes to actually do some gardening but looking forward to lingering over some end of month views later on today at leisure with notebook and pen at hand.

16 comments:

  1. What a character Huck looks, I bet he's raised a few smiles, and comments, over the years. The Dreaming Swan anemone is so pretty, but I agree about White Swan, much more understated, which is what I like.

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    1. Huck is an excellent icebreaker Jo and indeed has raised many smiles over the years from people of all ages :)

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  2. Love Huck!
    White Swan has been on my 'must have' list ever since I first saw it.
    I planted Pink Fir Apple last year and lost them all to blight... should have been brave and gone for them again this year!

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    1. Hope that 'White Swan' swims into your garden before long Jessica. She is most elegant. Better luck with 'Pink Fir Apple' if you grow them again the future.

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  3. Huck certainly is a feature worth featuring - and I had to smile at the various transformations your barrel has gone through over the years. Good luck with your 'White Swan' - I have some plants from Hayloft which are in my nursery bed but were certainly not going to flower this year. Your autumn seed sowing has reminded me that I have half a packet of orlaya seed that I could sow, but I need to look into what else can be sown now as it is not something I have done at this time of year before. You veg crop sounds good - I need to decide whether to pick all our remaining unripe tomatoes before we go away next week rather than ask our chicken-minding neighbour to be a tomato minder too!

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    1. Huck has indeed gone through several transformations over the years. He has more than paid his rent. Wondering whether you got any seeds started Cathy. If so hope that they get off the starting blocks before it turns cold.

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  4. We all have so much to get done in the garden before winter arrives!
    Love your water feature, and your 'swans' are beautiful!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  5. "Slithered out of reach" - yep, that sounds about right! I love Huck, what a characterful chap. Admirable restraint on the plant buying front, all told - and I am impressed at your seed sowing. I didn't quite get round to it, and am now telling myself that it is better this way, as I am rubbish at nurturing seedlings through the winter. Though I will sow some stuff that needs the cold spell to break dormancy. Completely agree about single vs. double on the anenome front, I keep lusting after "White Swan" myself, but have so far resisted. It won't last, the combination of the pretty back to the flowers and the long flowering period sell it very convincingly. I hope October doesn't slither away from you too, sounds as if you have way too much to do!!

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    1. I'm not that brilliant at getting seeds through the winter either Janet but trying to spread out the sowing load. Hope that 'White Swan' sails into your garden soon. Have yet to come across anybody who prefers the double to the single. October seems to be slithering too :)

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  6. A lovely post Anna. The White Swan anemone is beautiful, and I do like Huck! September certainly did slip by.

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  7. What a character Huck is! Your greenhouse sounds very interesting Anna, lots going on in there. October is a really busy month in the garden isn't it. I used to find it so overwhelming and left a lot of mess at one time but now I enjoy the autumn, like you it's just hard making time as the evenings are ruled out now due to the darker nights leaving only weekends and if you're away then it's hard to find the time. I enjoyed the weekend just gone as it was lovely and sunny like summer again. However, it's like winter today!! Typical!

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    1. I've got no excuse Anna as I'm no longer working so in theory have all the time in the world. I think that you slow down though when you have the luxury of time :)

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  8. Huck is really cute! Saw a very similar water feature years ago but the head was sort of floating on the water. White Swan is a beauty and looks definitely more delicate. Well, the month has gone by in no time, dreadful all this time slipping through my fingers...I also have Alionushka; all integrifolias are so easy going and delightful. Thanks also for your enjoyable postcard from Malvern :)

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  9. Thanks for visiting Annette and for your comment. I like the idea of a floating head - would try this with Huck but think that he might drown if we did :(

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All your comments are much appreciated and treasured. I wil try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment, but it may take me a few days, especially when I start spending more time in the garden and at the lottie. I know that you will understand :) I am sure that I will also visit your blog if I have not already done so. If you have any specific questions I will either reply to them here or you can email me at : thegreentapestry@gmail.com

Namasté

- Anna.