Chaos

What can I say....I have no kitchen, no washing machine, the builders have been living here since start of August....dust - don't talk to me about dust. Furniture piled high everywhere, I haven't watched TV for two months, I have very grey roots, very hairy legs but on the plus side have lost a stone in weight. Would you like to lose weight? Simple - just have your kitchen removed - it works wonders.

I shouldn't moan, things are starting to take shape and the new kitchen is coming this week.

Of course the garden has been rather neglected but I finished the season's workshops with a lovely bunch of ladies who were all friends and came together, on 21st September - the weather was beautiful and all went well.

 I am winding down now, putting the garden to rest, changing beds, making plans.

Was cheered up no end yesterday when a lovely lovely bride from last September emailed me some lovely pics of the wedding.

Makes it all worthwhile.

Thinking Ahead

Be prepared - something I find rather difficult but I have finally completed my bulb order for spring and ordered more perennials to bulk up the permanent planting beds from which I have removed the space wasters that weren't pulling their weight - out go the globe artichokes, anchusa, some hybrid tea roses, mathiasella bupleroides Green Dream (a beautiful plant but too precious for the cutting garden) and monarda (too scruffy!).

To fill the gaps, I am planting more of the star performers - phlox, veronicas, asters, toad flax, achillea, delphiniums and lysimachia.

I will also like to try something new each year but must not get carried away by the promise of something lovely in the seed catalogue, for instance, this year I tried achillea sibirica Love Parade. Basically, just like achillea ptarmica, the central "button" looks dirty when fully opened.

Bulbs for spring include more lovely multi headed, scented narcissus, some tulips and ranunculus for the tunnel.  And lots more alliums which are fab!

Pink ranunculus, Thalia narcissus and cherry blossom from spring past.

Mellow Fruitfulness

There's a definite nip in the air and yet, we are in for a pretty lovely month by the look of it.

Berries and hips and gourds.

Mist and golden leaves, the leaves are the best. It's early yet but here a few pics taken from last year....I'm hoping for a repeat performance.

I've started a new pinterest board ...check it out - here