September has been sunny, rainy, chilly and rainy and then more rainy. There have been flash floods around and about and the garden is squidgy mcsquidgy.
and whilst Tom, who led the recent front garden project work, was clear that the newly laid front lawn was to be watered twice daily for an hour; I admit the shere amount of torrential rain means this has not happened every day. I hope you are admiring my 'keep your footsteps of death offa my lawn!' barrier. I decided that signs are fairly ineffectual so I made this barrier from twine, bamboo canes and some ribbon. It has worked very well so far.
I think I mentioned that the side lawn was seriously damaged; this is my attempt at restoration. I found these left over turf rolls in the skip so took them out and have been watering them assiduously. I have also sprinkled a lot of grass seed around to try and encourage new growth. I am not sure how successful this will be but it was worth a try. You will note the bamboo canes, these are delineating where the border will be: there will be roses. You can see the standard hydrangea that is probably going to be planted there. At the moment it is sitting there whilst I walk around and by it for a few days deciding if that is where it fits.
The fence is a delightful blank canvas. I am thinking I will probably paint it and I will definitely be growing plants up it. I can't wait.
The back of the fence is now home to the tree stencil I bought earlier this year in Southport. I knew it would be on this fence and I am pleased it looks so nice there.
I would not usually show my washing on the line, but this space is the most dramatic change in the garden. Suddenly so much space and a longer washing line space is ridiculously happy making. My beloved ginkgo is currently sitting in the space where the large rowan tree grew. Don't worry, I am not going to plant it in the ground there, it is far too close to the house for a tree that will grow that big; but it breaks up the space nicely.
In the Smell me and Dye Garden the sweetpeas are suddenly over. Last week I was picking them, this week they are gone. I have let them go to seed and I am looking forward to collecting the ripe peas for sowing next year soon.
The zinnias are still going strong, they have been really good this year once they started flowering.
The Courtyard Garden is doing well, it has been enjoying the rain and, frankly, I have been enjoying not having to water it so often.
The garden generally is enjoying the rain, it is so lush this year.
The perennial sunflowers are dominating part of the Pond Border again, so I will be culling them over the Winter.
The Spring Border is looking quite green, which is no bad thing. This is its quiet period whilst it waits for its time to shine next Spring.
The Rhododendron Nova Zembla bought at Exbury Gardens way back in April, has grown a good eight inches this year. This is going to be a very fine shrub.
The Davidia tree, that used to live in a pot in the Courtyard Garden, has grown a good 12 inches I reckon, it is clearly enjoying putting its roots down. I have made sure in drier spells it has been kept well watered and it seems to be settling in well.
and the Magnolia Leondard Messel, one of my very favourite trees in the garden, is really getting quite tall and is covered in furry buds.
The fernery is being nicely ferny.
and a shiney fly was enjoying the Amicia zygomeris,
whilst a bee made the most of a sunny day and the asters.
The pond is clogged and in need of sorting; this will happen soon before the water gets too cold. It is a good Autumn project.
So all is quite exciting at the moment: I have so much to do and so much I want to be doing. I love it when I feel this excited and inspired by the garden, it makes me feel more like me again because I am the garden and the garden is me.
Take care and be kind.