With the clocks falling back an hour this weekend there's no denying that autumn is well and truly here and that the nights are lengthening. It's not my favourite time of the year and I'm already counting down towards the winter solstice. The weather was suitably dire this weekend with strong cold winds and intermittent rain some of it heavy. I picked the contents of my vase on Saturday to photograph not knowing what today would bring. As it's turned out it has been much drier and although still windy the direction of that wind is changing becoming milder.
In my vase this week are :
- Rudbeckia 'Enchanted Flame' - a new to me this year plant which were purchased as my usual sowing of Rudbeckia 'Sahara' was a complete and utter flop. This is a tender perennial which I shall be bringing into the greenhouse soon along with the dahlias.
- The red foliage is chard' Bright Lights' which produces a mix of edible leaves with stems that produce a rainbow of colours. I use them in salads and sow them most years. I didn't this year but bought some plug plants from a local garden centre in late summer.
- Finally for the scent factor a couple of sprigs of mint. I've lost track of which this one is but think it may be pineapple mint.
Thanks as always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' who gently encourages us to collect something from our gardens to show in a vase every Monday. Do pay her a visit if you haven't already.
This week's garden tasks include more bulb planting and leaf sweeping. A confession to make - a second albeit smaller bulb order arrived last week on the heels of the first delivery. We are also making our way through deciding what to do with our bumper apple crop apart from eat them and give them away. There's a supply of stewed apples in the freezer and we will be making a batch of spiced apple chutney later this week. The remaining necessary were bought this morning so we're all set to go. Any other suggestions as to how to use up surplus apples are welcome although preferably not anything involving cake 😂 Wishing everyone a good week both in and out of the garden.
That Rudbeckia is new to me and I'll have to look for it next year - the local garden centers don't have many to offer here this late in the season. I received 100 bulbs (most small!) late last week but, as the seller suggests pre-chilling before planting in my zone (which has little to offer in terms of a natural winter chill), I've tucked 75 of them in the fridge for the time being. Our clocks turn back next Sunday and I'm looking forward to sneaking in that extra hour of sleep!
ReplyDeleteOh I thought for a moment you had managed to get some Sahara blooms after all! How did Enchanted Flame do in terms of germination and development, especially compared with unreliable Sahara? The soft texture and colour of the mint leaves works well with the blooms and the chard leaves are a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteThe Golfer was suggesting we cut down our apples as 'we don't use them' - but we do, just not all of them! I freeze as much as I think I will need during the year, some go in the tomato chutney and I have dried some this year. I have also given a couple of big bags to one of the local food banks. I add them to a pork and cider stewy thing and use apple sauce to accompany various things like toad in the hole. How about apple 'cheese'?
Oh, I so agree with you about this time of year. Someone described the mood as "impending doom," and that is funny and scary at the same time. I mean, Halloween is fun, but winter (for the most part) is not. Anyway, your arrangement is lovely! The colors are gorgeous! And your glass vase is just right for the collection. Happy "vase day"!
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