Valley CreationsRuth was away for a couple of weeks, so I was in charge. These are some of the photos I sent her as updates. The weird mixture of rain and drought has led to some giant plants, virtually no apples and an absolute glut of red roses. The Heron surplanted the usual crows and magpies. The cut and come again cauliflower is very successful. A change of location and regular watering brought a smile to the face of a sad fern.
Although most of the leaves have now gone, some are still clinging on to green. The weather is cool and damp, rather than cold and the sun was so warm the other day that I couldn’t leave milk outside while we had a cup of coffee. There are quite a few flowers around, some early some late. There were seven female pheasants and one male in the garden at once one day.
The strange weather continues with some trees going into leaf drop routines early and others late, giving an extended display. We have a confused hazel that has green leaves and catkins, when most trees are now bare. Fungi all over the place, as usual and I improved a table top in time to match the Acers outside.
I’ve been doing the equivalent of ‘no mow May’ for a very long time, by leaving patches with daffodils, snow drops, daisies and buttercups, but for the past few years Ruth has been working more seriously on meadow planting sections of the grassy areas. Yellow Rattle is one of the ingredients of this style of planting and we have had varied success, using both seed and plugs. This year it has suddenly arrived with a bang.
Winter is here, so it’s time to sort out structures, prepare for next year and enjoy the subdued colours. The platform down the hill has a new floor and roof, the old sycamore is becoming a totem with an owl at the top. Paths and steps have been repaired, beds have been weeded and mulched. A whole raft of pruning is underway and cuttings are developing. Even when inside, you walk past a window or glass door and pause for a view that brings a smile.
