A WEEK IN MY GARDEN - 19 SEPTEMBER - A BUMPER CROP

I have a bumper crop for you this week.  There's ripening fruit galore and a surprising amount to share in the rose garden.  There is no denying that Autumn has arrived despite the occasional warm day. but there is still many plants that are flowering.  Looking back through the photos that I've taken this week I was surprised just how many there were.  Here are my highlights.

The Rose Garden

Although the second flush is nothing compared to the first, the Rose Garden is well supplied with blooms.  Rosa 'Bonica' is on the right.  The grass is scattered with leaves blown down from the Oak tree in this week's high winds.

The rose growing against the brick wall is 'Wollaton Old Hall'.  It was moved to this location early this year and has settled in well considering the dry weather we've had.  Previously it was hidden in a darkish corner of the Rose Garden, but it can be seen to greater advantage here.  The pale apricot blooms work well against the warm tones of the brick work.

Rosa 'Wollaton Old Hall'

It's heads are hanging down a little after the rain, so excuse my hand in the photo, but it was needed to show you the flowers properly.

Aster 'Dark Desire' is starting to bloom.  I love the dramatic colour of this one.  Having got a bit woody in the centre, I divided it in the Spring and I now have a few more of these decorating the borders.

Aster 'Dark Desire'

Late Summer is also Sedum time (I'm sticking with the old name, thank you very much).  I think 'Matrona' is a marvelous one.  The dark leaves and the soft pink flower heads blend beautifully with lots of other plants, and it doesn't seem to flop as much as the others (fingers crossed)

I assume the Sedum in the photo below is 'Autumn Joy'.  It was one the few perennials in the garden when we move here.  It's looking good too.  It skirts a bed which is home to the red rose shown below. 

This red rose was also in the garden when we moved in.  It had been buried by shrubs and I almost didn't notice it at all as it had just one flower.  Since moving it to a better location at least 12 years ago, it has flowered and flowered.  It may be 'Frensham', but that's just my guess.

Leaving flowers behind now, lets have a look at some abundant fruit.  The conference pear has done well.  It is tied to a framework of bamboo canes, otherwise I fear the fruit would have been too heavy for the branches.

Cooking apples we have too.  Not as many as some years, but they are mostly of a good size.  I don't know the variety, but we live near Southwell, home to the very first Bramley apple tree, so it has to be a Bramley doesn't it?

This eating apple is Discovery, as kindly identified by a reader of this blog.  Great flavour, and pretty red tinged flesh.

The aubergines haven't been quite as successful.  These were a variety called Slim Jim.  They are disappointingly full of seeds.  I did cook one or two and they were OK, but its not ideal is it?  If I'm going to all that trouble to grow something then I want something I'm really going to enjoy eating.

Let's end on a more upbeat note.  This is a view of the front garden taken from inside the house at dusk this evening. (Hence the reflections on the glass).  The white roses were really shining out in the fading light.  Beautiful.

That's it for another week.  Thank you so much for reading and extra thanks to those of you who comment on the blog either on line or in person.  Until next time.