Delivery from £4.95Autumn has arrived
Autumn has well and truly arrived. The mornings are colder. The evenings are darker. And there is a damp, dankness in the air.
Some blooms are manfully trying to carry on. The dahlias, salvias and roses are still flowering. But most have given up. Salvia Black and Blue is a joyous exception. As are the trumpet vines. The orange flowers of ‘Madame Galen’ AGM are gorgeous. It is a great climber which adds height to the garden.
Welcome rain
The rain is welcome. We had a particularly dry summer. Although I like the lack of rain, my garden doesn’t. It is now having a good drink. The grass is still growing and each time I think I have given it the last cut of the year it puts on another spurt.
When I’m not mowing the grass I am spending my time clearing up. At the moment I am busy trying to harvest the last of the indoor chillies, peppers and tomatoes. This will enable me to give the greenhouses a good clean before moving new stuff in from outside. The hanging baskets are still flowering but the first frost will knock them back. Likewise the geraniums. I need to protect these tender plants if they are to have a chance to making it through the winter.
Good to think about spring
Every garden needs lupins. They come in so many colours and shades. There is one to suit everyone. One of the more unusual ones is Lupinus chamissonis. It is a dwarf variety with silvery leaves and claret and blue flowers.
One of the best lupins is Masterpiece. Its purple blooms with orange specks are magnificent. Every garden should have at least one Masterpiece.
As the colour in the garden fades I take comfort from the structure of grasses and the greenery of my ferns. I love the way the grasses move in the wind. At this time of year many of the ferns have turned golden. They provide a haven for wildlife, and I find the different shades of green very calming. Dryopteris filix mas ‘Barnesii’ is very neat. It goes well with Dryopteris filix mas ‘Crispa Cristata’
Wild flower project
Over the last few weeks I have been adding to the wildflowers in our lane. It is something I started a few years ago. I began small. Just a few native bluebells. But gradually I have added more and more. This year I have planted wood anemones, cyclamen and fritillaries. I can’t wait to see what they look like in the spring.
Gardening tips – Take advantage of dry days to give your lawn a last cut (hopefully!) but remember to raise the blades. Prune hedges. Lift tender bulbs and plants and put them in a frost-free area for the winter. Mulch dormant perennials. Prune roses. Dig over vegetable plots.
