Twelve Days

It is that long since we have been to the garden.

We chose a great day to go. Sunny warm delightful.

Our first view was a lovely pile of chipped bark in the main yard. Hoping we can use some. Its from the ash trees on the campsite.

Our second view was the incredibly long grass.

I did take the strimmer but it was playing up. I didn't make much difference but Steve sorted it out. He did the area in front of the compost heaps.

As you can see, some of the paths are disappearing. With that in view I did do some clearing round our seating area.

Just ready for some new chipped bark.

Lots of clearing happened .... michaelmus daisy, sunflowers, dahlias all blown about by the strong winds.

There were butterflies around. No photos ... sorry.

We had a restful teabreak basking in sunshine.

Steve cleared the last of the tomatoes. It was a bit hot in the polytunnel.

We have two lovely new chairs but more about that next time.

Some surprising hangers on.

Even the roses are having another fling.

A lovely morning to be savoured to the full.

And my ankle has been fine.

Little Foxes and Tiny Boxes

 Good news.

I have been signed off by the orthopaedic department and no longer need the plastic boot. Now I can properly get on with the myriad jobs. I have been managing quite well but not doing as much as usual.

There's been a lot of crafting going on, some of it due to weather rather than fractured ankles.

Some with a Hallowe'en theme .....

..... some with a Christmas theme.

The little string people sold well on the craft stall in the summer so I thought I would try some in Christmas colours.

Every now and again I pick up some wool to make new mittens.

A lovely thing to do over tea and lunch breaks.

The autumn fairies were inspired by the lovely fabric which came from Temu.

During the rainy days, I have begun my yearly stash busting so lots more lavender bags.

I have had these cherry hexagons for years.

And the lavender fabric was perfect as well.

And a set of bunting.

This tiny fox was another experiment.

Someone will love it.

Every year my sister and I cannot resist making these tiny Xmas boxes. Sometimes we recycle old Xmas cards but these have been made with Xmas craft paper.

They would be perfect for Advent calenders, if you can find enough tiny things to go inside.

I can't wait for a bit of sunshine so that I can get outside to plant up the spring bedding.

Comfrey and Kind Sisters

Oh how quickly things start to slide. We visited the garden after nine days during which I am supposed to have taken it easy!! What a sight met our eyes.

 Because of the mild weather, things are still growing madly. Paths are covered in all kinds of weeds. Beds are also brimming with weeds. Sunflowers have died right down apart from a stalwart few.

Whilst wearing "the boot" I have to watch for uneven ground for balancing purposes so I am sticking to the paths. Even they are being dug up by rabbits.

Between us we got all the fairy items in from the little garden. The pieces have been left to dry in the polytunnel.
 

One gnome is safely inside.

I just about managed to heave myself round on my weeding box and we continued to clear the polytunnel. However I did need help to rise. Nothing to grab on to.

We had a reasonable haul all things considered.

 

On Wednesday my sister Paula came to help me plant up one round bed and our window boxes at home. Steve brought us lots of lovely home-made compost. She did so much in a morning. Then we had a nice lunch altogether.

Thank goodness for sisters.
 

My ankle is healing .... I am using comfrey ointment ..... but I am finding it incredibly frustrating. There is so much to do. Sometimes these things happen to slow us down a bit so I am sticking with the idea that in a few weeks time when the really cold weather comes, everything will die down anyway. 

I can see a very busy November ahead. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geraniums, Mittens and Ankles

 Unfortunately I have fractured my ankle in two places.

Luckily I only have to wear a rather large boot which can come off when I am sitting, showering and sleeping. 

But it has curtailed my actions somewhat, especially around the garden, as I have to watch my balance and the uneven ground.

The trouble is, things still need to be done especially with frost imminent any day.

My first job was planting 10 beautiful conkers. 

But today has mainly been geranium day. They have been wonderful at this end of the season and I want to save them all. The nights are getting colder and it is pretty obvious that they are beginning to suffer.

I do have a lot. 

We stuck to our front garden only. Steve carried them, along with a great deal more things, down to my greenhouse in pots, troughs and bins. There, I pulled them apart for cuttings or to pot up. All dead leaves were removed, cuttings prepared, sandy soil mixed and rooting powder at the ready.

No watering from the top for the cuttings. Placed in trays of water.

The plants will be kept very dry through the winter in my cool greenhouse.

 

On Friday we visited one of my favourite nurseries, 

Flowers Green near Herstmonceux. 

The pumpkin display was better than ever. I don`t know how they did it this year. Every one has been grown by the nursery. The range is amazing.

Even a scarecrow.

Here I bought pots of chrysanthemums, cyclamen and primroses, as I felt like I deserved a treat. 

We did make a lovely autumn display round our front door.

We spent our breaks in the garden room with feet up, feeling warm and snoozy.
 

I have been making a batch of autumn coloured mittens.

We have had our first fires indoors. There`s a definite change in the weather.

The dahlias continue to give joy.

 

Turf and Conkers

It was  a perfect day to start clearing the polytunnel. 

Between us we filled the bins many times over. We removed nicotiania with 30 c.m roots, still flowering and looking like triffids. We got out tomatoes, aubergines and peppers. We took down the net curtain protection which has been there all summer.

The net curtains and bunting were pegged up to dry off before we pack it away. 

In my opinion the non-fade rainbow fabric has definitely lost some colour so I`m not impressed. Quite a lot of bunting has been discarded.

The polytunnel is not finished.

In the end I had to cut the almost-over helianthus which was blocking our way to the compost heaps so I cut it down. It was so tough we decided it would go on the dead hedge. 

 

 

I was astonished to discover a fig but there is no way I will be eating it. The last ones we tried made us ill.

 

And the potted horse-chestnut is changing colour. This little tree is waiting for a permanent home on the farm.

 Talking of horse-chestnuts, my brother James and my nephews went conkering and gave me some to plant up.

This basketful makes me very happy.

Yesterday Sam was doing some turfing and had a few rolls left over. He very kindly brought them to the garden. Steve has rolled them out and given them a dousing.

 

We hope to use some of it to repair the cob shed roof by planting it up with sedum.

There are a few gaps.

Thanks Sam.

 

The grass is very long but there are a few worrying patches which have not re-grown. They may need re-seeding in spring.

 

 In the mornings the grass is too wet to mow or even strim.

 

 And some surprising flowers for the time of year.

 

Happy days.