greentapestry : End Of Month View ~ October 2015

Saturday 31 October 2015

End Of Month View ~ October 2015


October is coming to an end with snowdrops and sweet peas. The snowdrop in question is one of my specials 'Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships' - well I that's what the label purports. If the identity is correct it's certainly sailing in well ahead of time. From what I've read about it although an autumn flowering snowdrop, it's more of a late November/ December bloomer than a late October star. I will have to get out my snowdrop tomes and do some serious research. This week on the sweet pea front I've picked what will probably be the last vase worth of the year from the allotment. I thought that I might have picked the last bunch just before we went off on holiday in the last week of September but returned to find that the plants have got a second wind. I will do a separate post on this year's sweet peas soon. I was thinking of missing out on autumn sowing again this year but had a change of heart so a batch of 'Cupani' have just gone in. I'm trying a late October sowing rather than an early one to see if this will produce less leggy plants by the time they are ready for planting out.

I must admit that I have been very much in the doldrums recently when it comes to both garden and allotment which I think explains why I've not participated in the EOMV for some time. In fact I've just checked and June was my last contribution! Lack of time has been a real issue this year which may be hard to understand as I'm no longer working. In theory I should have all the time in the world but in practise it's not working out like that at the moment.  I was hoping for a bit of catch up and to do some planting when we returned from holiday earlier this month. However I had more or less no sooner unpacked when I had to unexpectedly down tools to go and care for a poorly mother. So October has gone by in a blink. It doesn't help that October has been a most benign and gardener friendly month. 

I had been feeling decidedly peeved at missed gardening opportunities but I'm trying to be positive and think ahead to next year now! I have bulbs to plant (too many as usual), have just ordered a new shrub promising dazzling autumnal colour and am considering one or two perennial purchases for spring delivery. I've also cheered up every time I go out in the garden at the moment by the new crab apple that we planted back in February 2014. Malus x robusta 'Red Sentinel' has produced its first ever fruits which are an absolute delight. The books say they quite often last until the new year and so far there seems to be little in the way of damage from the elements or theft from the feathered population. 

Thanks as always to the lovely Helen over at 'The Patient Gardener's Weblog' for hosting this most useful and informative monthly meme. 

15 comments:

  1. Snowdrops already? My cowslip is flowering but I've never heard of snowdrops flowering in October before. I'm sorry to hear about your mum, it's very hard as they get older and rely on us more and more, I hope she's on the mend now. I do love crab apples, they're wonderful at this time of year. I'd like to plant one myself at some point.

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    1. Although we all tend to associate them with spring there are a few snowdrops that flower at this time of year :) Thanks for your kind words Jo. I hope that you get to plant a crab apple before too long.

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  2. Your Crab Apple looks good and healthy Anna. I planted a batch of Cupani at the beginning of the month, they are already 6" tall! and I have pinched them out once. If there was only one Sweet Pea I could grow this would be it. I hope to have them flowering for the open gardens in June.

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    1. Thanks Brian. A favourite with me too although I've never quite worked out the difference between 'Cupani' and 'Matucana'. Nothing can beat them for scent. Fingers crossed that your sweet peas will oblige accordingly.

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  3. That' s early for Three Ships, it usually blooms in December. I have ' reginae- olgae' in bud but no sign of Three Ships yet. Your Malus robusta is looking lovely. What good value with such long lasting fruit.

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    1. That's what I thought Chloris. I remain to be convinced about its identity but have not had the chance to get the books out yet. I'm hoping that the malus has read the books.

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  4. Is your "Three Ships" in the greenhouse, it normally flowers at Christmas, hence it's name. I had one for a while, but last year it didn't appear! Your crab apple tree looks wonderful with all its fruit, will you be making jelly with them or leave them for all the birds?

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    1. 'Three Ships' spent last winter in the greenhouse Pauline but has been standing outside in a pot from April onwards. I've ruminated over the crab apples but they are getting a reprieve this year :)

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  5. Yoir crab apple looks beautiful Anna. I can sympathise with the time problem, but I have found just a half hour here and there instead of another cup of coffee is usually doable and can really lift my spirits. Hope you get a chance to get out there more this month!

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    1. Thanks for your comment Cathy. Little and often is a good maxim. I must try to remind myself of that :)

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  6. Hope you are able to have some me-time and garden-time and allotment-time now, and that your Mum has picked up. How lovely to find your Three Ships in bloom, albeit earlier than expected, and a good crop of crab apples now that you have a moment to catch your breath. Never does a day go past that I don't give thanks for the time that retirement has brought - even though it is crammed full to overflowing!

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    1. I've had some much relished me/garden/allotment time this last week or so Cathy which has certainly lifted my spirits. I remember that when younger that I never believed retired people who said that they didn't know how they ever found the time to go to work but now I fully comprehend and agree with that sentiment :)

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  7. Lovely crab apple! Still have some sweet peas but no snowdrops yet. Never sow my sweet peas in autumn as I feel they catch up very well when sown in spring. As for time...there never seems to be enough, a 'problem' lots of gardeners share, I think. Happy autumn days :) PS: why can I not comment with WP on Blogger? seems an ongoing thing...

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  8. Those crab apples look magnificent Anna. I have in my mind that I had a snowdrop blooming at this time last year but not Three Ships, I must look back.
    I hope your mother is on the mend and you are able to enjoy your garden and allotement again, even just for a little while before it gets too bad. Have a good week.

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  9. It is amazing just how much the days seem to shorten, in terms of time available, when you are no longer having to work. And explains why I am so very behind with blogging! Your crab apple looks so healthy, a real delight. I hope your Mum is on the mend. Take care.

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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.