I’ve not post for sometime now as my Mum had a period of poor health. She’s doing better now and is adjusting to her less mobile life. I’m hoping to be able to resume regular posting in the New Year. For this end of year post I’m picking up from my last post and sharing a few things from the last few months.
One
Our bumper crop of apples delivered over 70 bottles of juice this year. We got through several bottles for Christmas breakfasts this week. Delicious.
Two
Salvia Blackcurrant Sage (Salvia microphylla) did well this year. I was brave enough to cut it back hard after winter and it did keep it from becoming too leggy.
Three
Back in October I managed to plant some bulbs. I had ordered a collection of miniature daffodils to grow in pots. The selection included Snipe, White Petticoat, Toto and a few tulips: Hilde and Turkestanica.
Four
The new rowan tree has done well. It was watered weekly over the dry summer and although the height is around 1.5 metres the glorious display of leaves gives a good sign of things to come.
Five
This was the persimmon tree in November. It seemed to ripen a few weeks earlier this year. The black blob in the branches is a crow. We usually see flocks of parakeets feasting on the fruit but the crows took a fancy to them this year and seemed to scare off the parakeets.
Six
Ending on a seasonal note the ivy from the garden was used to decorate the stairs, intertwined with fake berries, red ribbons and fir cone lights.
I hope you all enjoyed celebrations or quiet times to reflect. I have spend so little time in the garden of late but I’m hoping to have more time in the New Year. It’s suitably cold now but I’m sure there’s a few jobs that need to be done. I hope to be reporting more regularly once again. Peace, love and garden joy to you all.
Many thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for keeping this all going. Stop by for his six and the links to other gardening posts.
n20gardener 
I hope your mother is feeling better now. It’s never easy with elderly parents… In your Six this week, I really enjoyed the salvia, which is superb. Happy Holidays and see ( read ) you in 2026 !
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Thank you Fred. See you in 2026 too
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Lovely garland! We did not decorating for the holidays this year. The persimmon is very nice. Do you eat them, or leave them for the birds? Glad your mum is feeling better.
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We always leave the persimmon for the birds. I feel they don’t quite hit that fully ripe stage here.
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Rowan is interesting. Is it a native species? Is that degree of autumn foliar color normal for it? I want to grow the North American rowan, which is known as mountain ash.
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Not a native. I tried hard to choose native but at the last minute I was tempted by a narrow growing Chinese vary. Forgive me, the name escapes me at the moment.
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Oh, it is no problem. I would not know what the Chinese version is anyway. I am particularly interested in the North American species, but the European species is what is more commonly available online.
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Sorry to hear about you mum’s health but glad she’s doing better. I’m always impressed by how many bottles of apple juice you get from your trees. Someone at work brought in some juice pressed from their apples and it was delicious. The Christmas decorations on the stairs look great. All the best for the New Year.
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Wishing you a very happy new year too. I believe our juicer said 12 apples will give a bottle of juice.
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Oh, yum! The apple juice sounds delicious! And your Rowan tree is so vibrant. It looks like you’re busy and active in the garden. I’m glad your mom is feeling better–here’s to continued improvement even while adjusting to a new pace. Blessings for the year ahead!
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Thank you.
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That’s an amazing amount of apple juice! How many apple trees do you have? We’re going to get a few once the garden is properly terraced and stabilised, but they will probably be dwarf ones.
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We have six. Four of them are kept very small and still produce a good crop. I think the juicers says it’s about 12 apples to a bottle of juice.
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Thanks! That’s really interesting and good to know! I think we’ll have space for about 6-8 small fruit trees, but we may do a mix of different types.
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Good luck with it all
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Elderly parents can be a worry but I’m glad your mum has improved a bit and I hope you were all able to enjoy Christmas.
Lovely choices for your six.
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Thank you. Fortunately she is nearby.
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the Salvia Blackcurrant Sage is quite lovely…I’ll have to keep an eye out for one!
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