Whipping Round the Walnuts

 Well we didn`t exactly whip round. For a start the lane was closed to traffic yet again so we decided to walk to the walnut field armed with nothing but garden gloves and carrier bags. 

Last evening Anne invited us to pick walnuts with her. So we set off in glorious autumn sunshine taking a short cut through the woods.

This year is a "mast year" which means a plethora of fruit, nuts and berries. The woodland paths are lined with acorns so much so, we were having to watch our step. Bit like walking on marbles.

 

The fungi is also going to be good this year.

 

We found Anne with the two dogs sitting in the sunshine near a walnut tree. There are about 40 trees here and we were harvesting before the squirrels got to them.

 

We chose to pick those with cracks or that had already burst open. We have never picked walnuts before so it was all new to us but I did know that the cases can stain your hands.

 

The walnut itself is encased in a green husk and on maturing, this splits open to reveal the hard inner shell. The shell encases the edible kernel.

We worked steadily round the trees gradually filling our bags.

 

In the past I should imagine walnuts would have been a very valuable food source for winter as they are already " preserved" in a shell, though protection from vermin would have been needed.

We filled our bags and made our way through the woods to the camping field where Anne carried on to the farm and we walked on home.

 

 At home we took off the last of the green husks, washed them and left them in open trays to dry off and mature in Steve`s greenhouse.

 

What a delightful way to spend our morning.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Profusion

 It was time to visit Flowers Green Nursery once more. I love this nursery in Herstmonceux. Me, Steve and my brother James, arranged to meet my niece Hazel there, have a good look round and go for a walk on the marshes nearby.

It was a warm, sunny day and we had the nursery almost to ourselves. The pumpkin display showed an amazing variety. They are grown close by in two fields.

 

 

We had a good look round all the fabulous plants,  such good prices and so healthy.

Here are my choices, in a pink and mauve theme.

But I did get four lovely geraniums at less than half price. I am hoping to over-winter them in my warm greenhouse.

 

We had our picnic sitting on the ancient mounting block on the wall of Herstmonceux Church, wondering who had mounted horses here in the past.

 The wall was over-grown with ivy and ferns.

 

A little further down the lane we cut through from the farm track and set off on a circular walk on the Pevensey marshes.

 

The area is cut through with drainage ditches and the Hurst Haven river. It is mainly used for grazing. It is also a conservation area.

We saw a wary swan with four cygnets and we disturbed a heron which rose from the river edge and swooped off on its huge wings.

The path edges were lined with a positive larder of goodies.

Blackberries, probably a bit far gone ...

 

...... rosehips ....

.... .hawthorn ....

 

...... and sloes.
 

It was baking hot. 

 

We made our way back towards the church through a harvested field of maize.
 

A lovely walk on a lovely day.

Delightful Floral Obstructions

 We most certainly deserved a day like today after the strong winds yesterday. It was beautiful. The sky was so blue.

We approached our visit with trepidation but amazingly, the sunflowers were still standing. A couple needed restaking but otherwise all fine.

I made a start on the compost heaps, having strimmed the path first. So with the smell of strimmed mint in my nostrils, I dived into the first heap, literally. I had to cut nettles back. The contents were pretty good .... three lovely barrowloads in the polytunnel and round the garden.The pallets have rotted away so they will need replacing before we start on the next bay.

Steve removed the shading from the polytunnel and noticed that the temperature inside, went up several degrees afterwards. Overall it has helped over the hottest weeks.

We harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers.

We also picked more apples. 

Lots have fallen and the guinea pigs are having a field day.

Nearly every path is a obstructed by flowers. It is moments like these that carry us through the winter months ... pushing yourself past helianthus and michaelmus daisies smothered in bees and other insects, dahlias bowed down with droopy heads, and coming eyeball to eyeball with sunflowers, angled at 45 degrees.

 During a peaceful teabreak, this 22 spot yellow ladybird landed on me. It is very small but quite spectacular.

I cleared the water trough and removed stinging nettles from the snug area. I had some ideas for planting underneath the seat. We took Gandalf indoors for the winter.

There were a few welcome surprises for mid-September.

After picking sweetpeas and dahlias, we made our way home after a very satisfying morning.

 

 

Bees, Dahlias and Crabapples

The winds are playing havoc with the poor sunflowers. It happens every year. To a certain extent our frameworks have been more effective than the usual set-up but we`ve still lost some.

Now the dahlias are being blown around. And the forecast is for worse to come.

The grass has been growing very quickly so I had a good strim all round. Then I tidied up the edges of three vegetable beds. It can make such a difference to the look of the garden.

Every dahlia seems to have a bee on it especially on the open ones. I am always careful with dead-heading. More often than not bees are still collecting even when there are no petals.
 

Mabel seems to be saying, "Just how much longer am I supposed to put up with this shabby outfit?"

Well next season she will definitely have a make-over. We just have to find some bright clothes. Perhaps at the last boot fair of the year.

The crabapples have completely changed colour and are hanging in golden clusters.

In Annes`s bed the yarrow is contrasting well with salvia

 "Hot Lips"

At home I am well into the autumn crafts. Here are a few.

 

 

Today as I watered my own greenhouse, I realised that I`ve been watering a green stick. I thought it was a pepper stalk, in the main hidden by lush foliage. Oh dear.

 

As the season for visitors comes to an end, the garden still looks lovely in the sunshine. After the windy weekend coming, there may be some clearing up to do next week.