THERE'S A CHILL IN THE AIR

I've noticed that I tend to start these weekly posts with a comment or two about the weather.  Talking about the weather is regarded as a particularly British way to begin a conversation, but I'm not sure why it's crept into my blog  in this way.

So - getting the weather for last week out of the way quickly - it was so hot that reading a book in the shade seemed like the only sensible option, followed by being so cold and windy that reading a book indoors seemed like the only sensible option.  

As a consequence of the high winds yesterday, I apologise if some of the photos may be slightly out of focus.


1. Rose hips

- the hips of Rosa Rugosa Alba to be more precise.  They are rather decorative, and as large as cherry tomatoes.  A suitably Autumnal start to this weeks Six, I thought.


2. Back door pots

This photo is by way of a souvenir - a last look back at Summer.  Since by next week (if I get my act together and the compost delivery arrives) it should all have been packed away and pots planted up with bulbs and pansies installed in their stead.  



3. A Pale Duo

Penstemons and Astrantia here make a late Summer duo in the Rose Garden.  The Penstemon were grown from cuttings last year and the Astrantia were some self seeded plants moved from elsewhere in the garden.  



4. Bramley Apple

We live near Southwell, where the original Bramley Apple tree still exists.  Therefore this cooking apple tree which was in the garden when we moved in, must be a Bramley.  It stands to reason, doesn't it?  Although there is a limit to how much stewed apple anyone who has been fully weened wants to eat, it is nice to have some now and then.



5. Aster Neron

I bought this Aster this time last year from Norwell Nurseries, who specialise in such plants.  It's a great cheerful cerise pink.


6. Toad Lily

Another Norwell Nurseries purchase from last year was this Toad Lily, Tricyrtis formosana 'Dark Beauty'.  It likes damp shade, and while it got the shade, most of the garden has been rather dry these last few months.  Nevertheless it seems to be doing OK, and I'd be happy to make space for quite a few more of them.  



That's all for this week from my garden.  Don't forget to check out the other gardens featured in Six on Saturday, which is hosted by The Propagator


Comments

  1. I too often start a conversation, a message or a phone call with news about the weather. It's important for us who love our gardens I believe.
    A British habit? Possible ... but even here in France it's common or it's my British side...
    The toad lilies are thriving here. I love these pretty flowers reminiscent of miniature orchids.

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    1. I think you have a varied climate, like the British, in Northern France - plenty of weather to talk about.
      You're right about the toad lilies being like miniature orchids. Isn't it a strange name for such a pretty thing?

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  2. That aster is very pretty. I must check on a new one I planted last month to see if any buds have opened yet. The rose hips are very impressive and the Penstemon and Astrantia combination is lovely. It has been a funny old week weatherwise!

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    1. I wonder why asters flower so late in the year? I'm glad they do though.

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  3. I'm a big fan of the toad lily and mine is looking dapper right now in the woodland garden. I too have a cooking apple tree. Two weeks ago we harvested a whole load along with some from the eating apple trees and took them to a local farm where they press, pasteurise and bottle the juice. The sharpness of the Bramleys balances out the sweetness of the eaters. It really is delicious.

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  4. I have my first perennial aster coming in a few weeks. Something pink with a fancy trademarked name, I hope it lives up to its hype!

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    1. I've been pleased with mine. They've established well on my heavy clay soil.

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  5. The rose hips are fabulous. I have a bare root rugosa on order for November delivery (R.R. Hansa) it would be rather nice if it arrived with a few hips attached, but perhaps that’s just wishful thinking.

    It certainly looks like a good healthy Bramley. I’ve been getting online food deliveries since the start of lockdown, and Bramleys have been out of stock for months. Nothing else is a match for a Bramley!

    You’re not alone in feeling the need to talk about the weather, I do it too, but it matters if you’re a gardener and especially as days are growing short and the temperature is dropping or rain is forecast - there’s so much work to be done in shorter and fewer available days.

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    1. Sorry you've been missing out on your Bramleys. If only you lived nearby you'd be welcome to some.
      I shall continue to include the weather report in my posts. You are right that it is very relevant for us gardeners, and not just a preamble to the important stuff.

      I've just looked up 'Hansa' as I wasn't familiar with it, and it looks very nice indeed.

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  6. I cannot recall who is credited with saying "Ireland has no climate, only weather" but it reflects our conditions perfectly; a country of constantly changing weather so it is no surprise that we also talk about it constantly. The "if you can't see the hill, it is raining and if you can see the hill, it is going to rain" applies accurately here!

    But, away from the weather and on to rosehips: I spent yesterday afternoon around the fields picking blackberries and have fingertips like pincushions to prove it now. I made these into Blackberry Jelly this morning and then Mary asked me why I hadn't used the umpteen kilos of garden blackberries in the freezer instead of picking more! No, those I suffered to collect will surely make the much superior jelly. This afternoon, I am going for crabapples and rosehips and tomorrow it will be rosehip jelly!

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    1. I've not come across rosehip jelly before, only rosehip syrup which I think some children of my generation were given for the vitamin C. Do you use the rosehip jelly like red current jelly?
      The blackberries down our way are not worth picking as it's been too dry for them. There are advantages to your high rainfall! Ireland is the only place I've been on holiday (we were in Connemara) where when there was a downpour everyone just carried on with their shopping, walking or sightseeing regardless - so we did too.

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