I'm fairly lucky in that despite all the recent rains we're not overly likely to get serious flooding round our way. We're close enough to the Mersey in its juvenile stages for to get the necessary drainage. Which isn't to say that we get off entirely scot free: the roads are like rivers due to the council's cutting the corporation gulley suckers out of last year's budget. Each roadside grid is like a small, oily lagoon.
If I get the chance this weekend I'll have to tip some of the water out of the baskets and containers in the garden. My usual problem is under-watering the poor beggars; I don't think this will be an issue in the next week or two.
It's been a funny autumn out there. Everything seemed to stop flowering for a week in early October and I thought that was it until the winter shrubs kick in. Then, one by one, flowers started to pop up at random. All the roses are now in full bloom again, as are the snapdragons and sweet williams, and the fuchsias are doing better now than at any time so far this year. Really odd, but rather nice.
More disappointing are a couple of recent casualties. I had a really splendid witch hazel, just in sight of the living room window. For some reason that's died a death. And over the past two weeks the Olearia that had been doing so well in the far border has pegged out. A pity.
I'll have to grub both out this winter and have a think about what to put in their stead. I fancy some oriental poppies and a load of fennel.
The Colours of Mushrooms
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I like this. I don't know why. Putting it here means I can find it again
easily, look at it some more & maybe eventually be able to explain why it
appeal...
1 day ago
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6 comments:
It's more often the case that I'm amazed at what survives under my Fingers of Garden Death.
I do have a lot of tencious oriental poppies though, I love them - and fennel
Our fuschias are still going strong. Such a reliable and colourful plant. Unfashionable someone told me when I got them, probably back in fashion now, but who cares?
Lulu: I love them to bits but as the garden's gotten more overgrown they've both withered and gone. A couple of new clearings should be a good opportunity.
Gareth: "unfashionable" plants are nearly always the most reliable.
As soon as the water level this end drops below the first floor windies, I'll be able to cultivate the new crop of seaweed that has appeared everywhere of late.
I've also still got lots of snap-dragons and roses back in bloom, but it's starting to freeze over here now. The campsis is still amazingly healthy and now I've finally seen the size of a fully grown one (in a garden in Italy) I realise I'll eventually have to build it a whole new wall of its own for it to climb up!
I like cat mint and mine had flowers last week.
Stray cats are often attracted.
Sx
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