End of Month View: November 2012

Yesterday morning, when I left for work, there was a heavy frost and traveling on the train through the Sussex countryside was a joy to behold.  To me one of the most beautiful views is when the trees and fields are coated in a hoar frost.  This morning there was another heavy frost which made an exciting opportunity to photograph the garden for the review of the garden at the end of November, albeit a day late.

The garden itself is becoming dormant, which is to be expected at this time of the year.  The Sedum is almost over, with the flowers now turning black which makes it now look ugly and untidy.  They did look good though with the contrasting white frost on them.

However, despite two days of heavy frost the Salvia is still flowering and keeping its vibrant blue.  I have shown this plant in the last few EOMVs, and it always attracts comments; unfortunately I am unable to say what the variety is.  It really is as blue as this and there is no colour editing to make it stronger.

The leeks are looking good and tasting good too!  I must pull up the Swiss Chard, although I am leaving it for as long as I can because I love the colour.   This weekend I had planned to clear it up and sow some green manure seeds, but as the ground is frozen I am going to have to run the risk of leaving it for a weekend without frost with the hope that I have not left it too late.  Field Beans have been recommended for sowing at this time of year. Something is digging big holes in the vegetable bed so I will have to ensure it is well covered to allow the seeds to germinate.

All the roses are pruned now to prevent wind rock, and the roses in pots still have their leaves which was lucky this morning as they looked beautifully frosted.

Moving on to the front garden.  Now all the leaves have fallen from the Lilac I can see what needs to be pruned to get the shape right.  A while ago I  took out lots of the old and dead wood, with the hope that it will flower in abundance next year, because it let me down in 2012.   I have adorned it with bird feeders, and this morning when I sat in the bay window, eating my breakfast, they were visited by lots of little blue tits.

To make up for the lack of berries on the holly in the back garden, the Skimmia and Cotoneaster are adding lots of red colour to the front garden.

The Hydrangea has been flattened in places, and I am wondering if Mr Fox has been clambering through the shrub, I can’t think of what else could have done the damage.

The tops of the Hydrangea were tipped with frost and I don’t usually see this on the shrub in the front garden, it looked very pretty.

Finally, as a little bit of cheer, there are some Primroses coming out in a pot which is down the side of the house.   They are a little nibbled around the edges and I am never quite sure what eats them, but they are pretty all the same.

Thank you Helen at The Patient Gardener’s Weblog for hosting this monthly meme.  If you visit her blog, you will see links to other EOMV from garden bloggers across the country which always make for an interesting read.

© Hurtlingtowards60 and ©Hurtled to 60 and Now Beyond ©AarTeePhotography Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited

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