Must remember, just one “R”.

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Pauline

Lately, I’ve been clearing in the woodland, getting ready for the snowdrop season, in between sweeping up all the autumn leaves, still a few more of those to do. Cutting back any dead bits, weeding any weeds out, generally just tidying up a bit so that the snowdrops aren’t having to compete with the winter’s detritus. When I have finished all this, then a mulch of lovely crumbly leaf mould will be spread round the snowdrops and hellebores as they seem to like it so much.

While it was still November I could see that the snowdrops were well on their way, poking their noses above ground, then suddenly I found a clump in the far left of the woodland that were actually flowering!

Faringdon Double

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Our first frost.

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Pauline

When I woke up this morning it was still dark outside. While making my breakfast I happened to look out of the kitchen window and thought the grass was looking rather white. Sure enough, half an hour later showed the garden had had its first frost overnight, enough to make me explore with my camera, to find any frosted leaves.

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Not a lot left now. GBBD November 2018.

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Pauline

When walking round the garden to take November’s photos for Bloom Day, I found that most of the flowers were over and done with, not many left at all. I’ve been concentrating so much on foliage for the past few weeks, that I hadn’t noticed the decline in the flowers in the garden, I really had to search some of them out.

The winter jasmine by the front door opens more flowers every day and is just getting into its stride.

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All colours blazing on my return.

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Pauline

When I got back from my whirlwind trip to Canada, I found that my own garden was in full party mode, with all colours blazing on three of my trees. The two Acers had reached their full potential and my seedling silver birch by the back door is now a golden fountain.

This is the acer that was already here when we moved in nearly 30 yrs ago, so I don’t know which one it is unfortunately.

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RBG Rock Garden in all its glory.

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Pauline

This is my last Canadian post and I finish with the last garden we visited at the Royal Botanic Garden in Hamilton, Ontario. The lady on the desk at the information centre (disguised as a witch!) told us that the colours there were fantastic and she was certainly correct, I think we had unknowingly saved the best till last.

As I was walking round, it was wonderful to see so much colour, shape and texture everywhere, definitely my sort of garden.

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Did anyone mention Hallowe’en?

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Pauline

Our trip to Canada coincided with the end of October and that of course means Hallowe’en. We saw lots of pumpkins by the roadside and in gardens and on the 31st itself we had about 150 children call at the house for their candy and crisps, not all at once I hasten to add!

Getting the decorations in the front garden.

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How I became a “leaf peeper”

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Pauline

I am now officially a leaf peeper. A “leaf peeper” is someone who travels great distances to see the foliage of trees, usually in the USA. I have just returned from an amazing 5 day whirlwind trip to see my nephew in Canada who was celebrating a “Special Birthday” and managed to time my trip for the best of the fall  (autumn) colours. I have returned to some pretty amazing colours in my own garden too, but they will have to wait for a later post.

The very first tree that I saw was this beautiful tree in my nephew’s garden.

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Colour changes in a mixed bag.

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Pauline

Ever so slowly, the colours are changing in the garden. Each day when looking out of the window, sees a slight shift from green to more  gold, with a few purples and reds thrown in for good measure. The colours haven’t reached their climax yet, but the change is there, there is no denying it now.

Acer Osakazuki is now half way through it’s change, with just a few leaves showing their wonderful pink/red final colou so farr.

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Star performer.

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Pauline

The flowers on my variegated Yucca are opening nicely now and making quite a statement in the garden. The actual flower spike measures about 3 ft and the individual flowers are about 2 or 3 inches long so the whole plant is quite impressive at about 7ft tall.

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Hanging in there. GBBD October 2018

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Pauline

I didn’t think there would be many flowers this month, but it is surprising what I found when I ventured out between the showers of Storm Callum. Some are bravely flowering away as if the wind and rain we have had lately had never happened.

Hydrangeas really suffered during the summer drought, but not this one under the kitchen window, why I wonder?

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