Enter Autumn, stage left...
It has felt like an unusually warm end to September, yet I remind myself as someone from Nottingham that my mother used to tell us of going to Goose Fair in summer dresses. Goose Fair is one of the oldest travelling fairs in the country and usually takes place in early October. Sadly the pandemic has caused its cancellation for two years now but hopefully it will recommence next year. Anyhoo, we always thought that my mother just was very cold at Goose Fair as there is what we call 'Goose Fair Weather', a misty murky damp chill in the air. Looking at the forecast it looks like the weather will deliver just that.
The garden ends the month looking not too bad, The lawn is greener than it should be as we have had so little rain this summer. It might not have been the sunniest of years, but it has been very dry in our middle part of the country. I love the sedums dotting pinkly along the Pond Border at this time of year. They give such good colour at the moment and wonderful structure through the winter.
You can see the block of perennial sunflowers at the back of the border. They are so pretty but such a thug. This year it is worse than usual as I could not edit them last autumn due to my broken ankle (I wonder how long I can spin this excuse out.....) so this year there is a lot of editing to be done.
You can see they really love this Prairie Border too, the other two borders are not so over run which shows the difference in soil conditions in my garden. I know I need to thin them back yet part of me also wants to just let them take over this space. A huge block of sunflowers seems very appealing at this moment in time. I will make a decision at some point I am sure.
The Wild Garden as had its September mow, the first one of the year for it. It might get another cut in a couple of weeks time but the bulbs soon start to appear and then I just leave it be. It does look very dry at the moment. The shrub in the foreground is a Buddleja colvilei, I have had this shrub a few years in a pot and decided it was time to let it loose into the garden. I am hoping it survives the winter ok, I am a little worried about its hardiness.
Despite the dryness the hydrangeas in the Accidental Shrubbery have done well this year. I have had to water them a couple of times but generally they have rooted in well enough now to cope with some dryness. Last year it was a constant battle to water them enough.
It has been a good year for my fuchsias too.
This is fuchsia 'Lady Bacon', bought some years ago now. It has always been a good plant but this year it has really put on a lot of growth, suddenly it has moved from being pleasant enough to being a really good plant.
The Japanese Anemones always bring me joy. I find them such cheerful plants.
and the Exotic Border has been its best ever this year. Now of course the challenge is to over winter all the tenders, but I am really inspired now to make it even better next year. I liken it to setting up a store cupboard/pantry: you have to buy the essentials and that takes a bit of time and money, but once you have them in place then you just add a bit here and there when needed. Let us hope this theory works!
In the front garden the Mina lobata (hakuna matata as it is generally referred to here) is growing up the Gertrude Jekyll rose by the front door. I really like the effect this makes.
This Petunia Pegasus Burgundy Bicolour I bought from Thompson and Morgan has stolen my heart. It has flowered and flowered and flowered.
and this viola has self-seeded into this succulent pot. It is a moment of sheer joy, I smile whenever I look at it. If this past eighteen months have taught us anything it is to smile when we can.
The Edgeworthia is getting ready for spring,
the young silver birch is embracing autumn,
and I was going to say that the pond needs topping up, but after taking this photo it has poured and poured with rain. Not enough to fill the pond, but certainly enough to mean that topping it up is no longer necessary. I never used to top up the pond, but these last couple of years it has been so low that the liner has been exposed which will reduce its life-span.
The nights draw in so fast now that each moment of daylight feels precious, so here is to what October will bring to the garden.
Stay safe and be kind.
