Light and Shade

The rudbeckias are as cheerful as ever and making a vibrant splash of yellow in the garden. Things are a bit in-between right now, a bit subdued until the autumn glow, so the rudbeckias are very welcome.

There is much more to a garden though than flowers, fruit and vegetables. There are other things to enjoy. A garden is a sensory experience of sights, sounds and aromas. Trees provide height, shade, rustling leaves and sound as the wind whips through them. Objects around the garden also add interest.

I’m so fortunate to have trees. Two gigantic conifers and several fruit trees, a couple of hawthorns and elders provide beauty all year round, safe havens and nesting sites for the birds and new sights with each season.

There is pleasure in shadows created by the trees and by dappled light where the sun shines through gaps. Sometimes where the light falls can be as interesting as the plants. Here are some examples I picked up with my camera.

When you have trees or shrubs you also have birds. Always lovely to watch or to listen to. Feathers lying on the ground or resting on leaves are beautiful with their downy fronds. Butterflies have been scarce this year but I saw this Speckled Wood the other day.

Little features in the garden are pleasing too. A pot, a fence or even a latch catch my eye as I walk around.

Only a few flowers are gracing the garden now but they are lovely ones.

Normally at this time of year I make picalilli with my cucumbers, courgettes and beans. The cucumbers failed to appear from a new variety of seed which I tried, the courgettes have been slow and unproductive. I thought I would have to buy my ingredients but then I decided it would be better to use what I have. I had a few turnips and apples which needed using and I found a recipe. It was in a book by Beryl Wood called “Let’s Preserve It”. So I gave it a go. I won’t put the recipe on because this is a first for me and although I modified it a bit it isn’t my own invention. Time will tell if it was a good idea when we start using it.

The runner beans are brilliant. Gardening books tell you they need loads of food, compost trenches and heaven knows what but I just put them in to a bed dressed with some homemade compost and they romp away. They produce so many without any fuss as long as they have enough water. I open any large stringy pods and use the delicious pink beans and I freeze a few tender pods for winter.

Life’s not all about the garden and food, of course. I needed a little relaxing project so I knitted a tiny teddy. These little toys are a joy to knit. Bit tricky to sew the bits though. The parts are so small that it’s fiddly putting them together. Or is it just that I was too lazy to fetch my box of pins? Hmm.

Another week has flown by. I hope you’re enjoying the sights and sounds in your own garden or in those around you or perhaps absorbed by a bit of crafting like me. With you again soon.