Golden Apples and Raspberry Delight

Well we have had our first frost. 

Luckily all my geraniums are all inside and the cuttings are taken.

Various fuchsias are inside and I am trying to save the osteospurnums that I grew from seed. 

Huge plants.

Fingers crossed.

Nothing has blackened yet which is just as well.

I have been trying to label all the dahlias whilst they are still in flower. Not an easy job as the growth is phenomenal.

Lots of changes at the garden and farm. 

A new raised bed is being built just outside the garden, alongside the fairy garden.

Cosmos continue to flower along with this incredible sunflower.

I must look up the name again.

 We cleared the aubergines from the polytunnel and cut back the jasmine. I am thinking it may soon have to be dug right out as its becoming a nuisance and for some reason never flowers.

 Tomatoes are still ripening so high that we can`t reach them.

 Tobacco plant and petunias have seeded themselves.

The last of the gladioli are inside now.

 If it wasn`t for the fact that I would want them in different places next year, I think they could be left in the ground.

I didn`t realise that we had so many.

 

Steve has covered more ground with old carpet which keeps the weeds down.

Likewise the raised bed where it is clear.

Nearly all the leaves are down in our little orchard.

And what a sight the crabapples are.

 

The bunnies were preferring to stay indoors today.

And tonight we had raspberries for our dinner,freshly picked from our own garden. 

Amazing. 

 

Fat Bottomed Girls

There is a predominance of orange and yellow in the 

autumn garden.

The deep mauves of the Michaelmus daisies have moved on

(and there`s plenty of them to thin out this season) 

We have been away for a week and are astonished to find so many tomatoes still ripening.

I have moved the special bits and pieces from the fairy garden for the winter. All the new planting is doing well.

Steve was spreading manure.

Tim asked us if we wanted more.

Yes please.

I have been trying to neaten the bed edges.

It`s not easy with the wire netting.

I`ve pulled up some sunflowers but these are going on and on.

The dahlias are amazing. Seven bunches for POPPS tomoroow, our local old folks project.

 

 

 

 

I forgot to pick the quince before we went away.

Blackbirds have been having a feast.

The pond has been very low with no rain for ages.

I filled it up a bit and began cutting round the edges.

Much to still give pleasure.

Including our fat-bottomed girls.

 If you came camping in the summer, you may remember them as little chicks.

 

How Long Can it Last

We are enjoying the Indian summer as promised.

Today we have been in t.shirts and roasting in glorious sunshine.

I was just about to say that the garden was sooo peaceful, but on second thoughts it wasn`t.

Tim was busy rolling the yards with new roadstone and widening the track round to the garden.

There was a keening buzzard swooping low over the donkey field, where Rosie and Alice let out an occasional braying.

I wonder what the buzzard had spotted. They are usually so much higher.

The garden itself was buzzing with the most amazing number of insects .... bees of all kinds, hoverflies, Peacock butterflies and dragonflies. Most of all they were enjoying the Michaelmus daisies.

 I picked some pears. I`ve been waiting for them to ripen enough.

The three chicks have grown so much and were busy exploring the garden. They got to this dropped pear before me.

 

I also picked six perfumed golden quince which just fell away in my hand. We are thinking of trying quince gin.

Anne is going to try quince jelly.

 

I carried on digging the raised bed and Steve came along behind with barrowloads of manure. We are hoping to cover completely with old carpet to keep the weeds down.

There is a kind of misty haziness over the photos taken today, which makes for an even more magical look.

I am loving the colour palette of the M.daisies.

Fungi continue to thrive. They come and go so quickly.

Moles have been busy. They do not worry me. Some people get quite upset about their lawns being ruined. Not me.

Oh my goodness the dahlias. They are really doing their thing.

On Wednesday I took 7 bunches to the village coffee morning, run by Tim and Anne. They sold like hotcakes I am pleased to say.

 

Poor old Doctor Who fell over and was taken indoors a while ago.

Today the friendly witch went inside.

All the scarecrows come inside for the winter.

There are so many jobs to do I have to keep the blinkers on.

The weeds continue to thrive.

Runner beans are doing well.

The cucumbers are finished.

Caterpillars are munching through the cabbage family.

A beautiful time of the year, during which we make the most of the warm sunny days wondering how long can it last.