Undeniably the weather has changed. There’s still plenty of rain but now the temperatures have dropped and the first frost arrived. My ‘to do’ list is still quite long but it was not a gardening week for me. I am feeling the pressure as the leaves on the trees turn colour but generally October is a genial month here and I hope I can fit it all in. Here’s six for the week.
One
A new job was added to the list last week. The second greenhouse has a wooden frame and age and a deluge of rain have taken their toll. Two panes have slipped and now hang on periously, held by grime and moss. The wooden frame has rotted away and there is nothing left to support them. Now I have a trip to the greenhouse supplier planned. I decided not to replace the greenhouse damaged by a storm but this one I do need.
Two
This is an interesting one, even though it is only a hebe. I moved this a couple of years ago to the back garden. It settled in but lost its dark leaf and then flowered white. It has now re-appeared in its original location with the dark leaves and the original purple flower. I’m leaving it where it is. Nature knows best.
Three
I have been moving things around in the garden this year and the trouble is there are always weeds that tend to go with the plants. Here, I would love to divide these hesperantha coccinea but this patch is riddled with cinquefoil. The RHS site encourages me to love this weed. I’m not sure that I can but I am stuck with it.
Four
This one moves around without my doing anything. The Mexican daisy has self sown itself into the patio cracks very successfully and now I even I concede there is a little too much of it. It is allowed to colonise steps and edges, the rest is strimmed back regularly.
Five
My fig tree. What can I say about it. It is pruned every year. It is quite large. One party would like to take it down completely. I feel it gives privacy to the garden. This year the first crop of figs was very poor. Now the second crop looks amazing but in all probability will not ripen enough. There is more muttering in the N20 household!
Six
Lastly a pretty little geranium is having another showing. Geranium sanguineum var. striatum. Long lasting, simple and slug proof!
I really hope I can finish off one or two jobs next week. I am having a dither about the hydrangeas that were recently purchased. They are going into a space backed by a climbing hydrangea. Is that going to be like double denim? Am I about to commit another gardening crime? In the meantime Jim, who claims he is struggling to find six things, does in fact deliver another six delights! Happy gardening everyone.
n20gardener 
My mother just gave me a load of green figs, but I doubt any of them are rip enough to eat. I shall have to look them up.
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Sometimes they ripen inside. 🤞🤞
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My fig crop was poor this year. I do like the color of the H. coccineus.
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Interesting to hear about your figs. It has been a strange year.
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I would love to grow figs. I fear they may not ripen, though there is a new fig tree at Centennial garden and it looked like theirs are ripening. I vote to keep the fig. I like the mexican fleabane too.
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It’s a lovely fruit to have and it will probably stay!
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Very pretty hebe!! My fig tree is at the same stage; lots of young figs that look appetizing but unfortunately not ripe… it would take another 15 days of mild weather for them to ripen. And what a shame about your greenhouse… here I have unbreakable windows, like cars
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We also have toughened windows but the whole pane has slipped because the bottom wood has rotted. Time for a new one!
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That is one lovely Hebe. Obviously it knows best! I am gradually removing the cinquefoil from my B&B beds, though what I should do is remove everything from the bed and cover it with cardboard and a mulch for a year. However since the darn stuff grows in the cracks in the rockery wall there is no way I will ever be completely rid of it. Perhaps I just need to love it!
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That is just a I feel. Mine is creeping into the lawn. I feel I just have to give in.
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I sometimes think I should just get rid of the lawn altogether, mine is mainly weeds, but it is nice to have somewhere to walk in bare feet. Gravel is not so nice.
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Mexican daisy is such a good softener/filler/flowerer/easy to pull-upper – it’s surprising how big it gets each year though. I hope harmony is reached regarding the fig tree – the leaves look great against that blue sky.
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So many beauties there. The Hesperantha coccinea, in particular, is stunning! The Figs look delicious. Autumn is definitely asserting itself here in the Upper Midwest U.S., too. I’m not ready for it. Stay warm!
Beth @ PlantPostings.com
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We’ve had an incredibly warm week but ending with plenty of rain! Hope your cold weather stays away for a while longer
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Mexican daisy is also naturalized here, although I learned it as a native. It is not too aggressive. It grows on stone walls and other places where I do not want to grow anything else. I remove it from the walls when it gets shabby because I know it will grow right back. That greenhouse looks impressive. I miss the old fashioned glass houses. They were so stylish. Modern houses are about as appealing as anything else that is modern.
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I hope that you get the greenhouse fixed. I can’t imagine being without mine. The fig is worth keeping if only for the foliage.
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Gh is beyond repair but steps are afoot to replace!
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I am so jealous of your fig tree! They grow everywhere near me except in my garden.
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A friend has a beautiful small sized one. She can pick figs so easily, more like a shrub. I’m so envious of her!
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