Six On Saturday: Back to the gardening fold

/ n20gardener

Having had a sprained ankle, a family function and other distractions going on for the last few weeks I feel I am finally gardening again. The season has shifted and there is plenty of garden-keeping to be done. I have ordered a few bulbs: I am pursuing my Spring idea to have pots of small but interesting narcissus to enjoy and I needed some Maureen tulips to infill a gap. Here’s my six from this morning’s walk.

One

The apples have been picked. We have six sack fulls to take off for juicing. Quite a haul, given the great number of windfalls we have had this year. I checked with our Juicers and they confirmed that apples with codling moth damage can be juiced. I’m sure we’ve always had some damage but this year it seemed to have affected more apples.

Two

I did find a new person to prune the apples and the plum but as yet he hasn’t been able to visit. The plum tree is far too large now and I am wondering how late in the season the necessary pruning can be done. We’ve been picking plums for several weeks but it might be time to call it quits.

Three

The rain has energised the garden, the grass is growing again and many plants are looking happier. Here the Corsican hellebores and a fatsia that have really developed a backbone again.

Four

The verbena bonariensis seeds prolifically, often leaning over the path or other plants. Here it seems to have found the perfect spot. It has remained upright and is looking especially good in the Autumn light.

Five

I’m sowing Autumn seeds. The echinacea ‘White Swan’ came good but I am on my second sowing of Orlaya and Gaura. Let’s hope they get going this time.

Six

I’ve also been shopping for my troublesome border. The hydrangeas went in earlier this year and are a dwarf variety called ‘Little White’ which should reach 60cms and I’m just about to fill in the gaps with hakonechloa macra.

Here’s hoping I’m back in the groove again! The walk round revealed plenty of slug damage to my new delphiniums and much that needs dead-heading. I’ve yet to pull up the tomato plants but that’s just about due. In a taste test on the cucumbers ‘Burpless’ were a clear winner over ‘Marketmore’. Plans for next year are being made. Wishing you all a happy Autumn in your gardening spaces. Jim’s Garden Ruminations is full of Autumn inspiration.

17 thoughts on “Six On Saturday: Back to the gardening fold”

  1. I really like the serrated foliage of Corsican hellebores. I said I had to buy some, and I think it’s still on my list.
    Regarding plum trees, like peach trees, they only need to be pruned once after the fruit, and preferably in the autumn.

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  3. Apples look good. I miss the apple trees on the farm. I prune a dozen or so apple trees for my Pa, but I only see them when I am there to prune them, not for the fruit. There is a nice ‘Pippin’ apple tree at work, but it is not within the landscapes, so remains neglected. Once I prune it, it will need regular pruning.

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  4. The apples look good. How wonderful to have some place to juice them for you. Glad that you have the gardening mojo back again, the  hakonechloa macra look good as do the Corsican hellebores. My fatsia is getting a bit too big so I am contemplating seriously cutting it back to where I have allowed new growth from the base to form. Once you get an idea into your head it is difficult to shift…

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