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Winter is rushing towards me at an alarming rate! Need to hold on to those precious moments while the garden has a little colour and interesting things. Lots of fungi have sprung up. Fascinating to see. A large collection under a hedge and others dotted about. Another sign that Winter is on its way isContinue reading “Damp Autumn Days”

A few lovely days have given me the opportunity to work outside. I planted a few more daffodils. Some called “Delibes” and a few more called “Flower Record”. You can’t have too many. I shall be greedy for flowers after the dreariness of the winter. The plums have surprised me this year and a fewContinue reading “Ginger Cakes and Old Folks”

Leaves cover the paths now under the fruit trees. Damp and scented, they form a carpet on the earth. Sweeping is a constant job at this time of year but it’s good to leave a few leaves to shelter creatures over the winter. Mellow autumn is turning the garden colours to shades of gold andContinue reading “Baskets Full of Goodies”

The longer evenings are drawing in and with them a feeling of needing to be snug and warm. Not quite time for a log fire but a cosy blanket is welcome. A time to knit, read and paint a picture or two. Before winter sets in I like to be busy storing away my jarsContinue reading “Cosy Blankets and Chutney”

The old plum tree has surprised me with a pretty good crop this year. A couple of years ago it was suffering from a fungal infection and the few plums it produced were horrible, distorted things. Fortunately it’s recovered. Often though the plums are blown down and bruised, or nibbled by birds and other gardenContinue reading “The Swinging Sixties”

We’ve had some lovely days with an autumn ambience. The asters and sedums are flowering, rudbeckias still glowing and a few butterflies are about. Some pretty cyclamen are appearing under the trees and the “Water Lily” colchicums are beautiful. Frost will be coming soon so I’m making the most of fruit, tomatoes and beans whileContinue reading “Seasonal Treats”

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 toContinue reading “Light and Shade”

All my life I have loved the colour red. My kitchen walls are painted red. So cheerful, warm and inviting. Fifty years ago I bought a set of red pans. After all that time I only have two left but they’re often used and still appreciated. One small saucepan which I use exclusively for boilingContinue reading “The Colour Red”

Over many years I’ve collected cones from places we’ve lived or visited. Not only are they lovely things but they stir many memories. We have two gigantic conifers but strangely they have very small cones. I find tiny new conifers growing around the garden wherever the cones have been spread by the wind or droppedContinue reading “Cones and Cakes”

The garden has been full of aromas this week. Woody, earthy dampness with the scents of lavender and marjoram. Huge white fungi have sprung up overnight in the bed where wildflowers grew and are now dying back. The fruit has been blowing off the trees and landing with a thud on the ground. The splitContinue reading “Woody Scents and Preserving Ginger”