Garden Blogger Returns!

Acer Palmatum Seiryu

It was nice to see that not all the colour had disappeared from the garden when we returned from our hols!  How different this country really is from the mountains, rain forests, deserts and volcanoes we visited!  

Lower lawn

Having caught up on office jobs, laundry and sleep; it was time to commence the next garden project - namely TERRACING!

The greenhouse path border was duly emptied of all plants and shrubs. Excess turf was removed and all were laid in, on and around the vegetable patch.  In fact, it no longer looks like a veg patch at all.  

Veg Patch?

After a worrying few days not being able to find any really flat walling stone anywhere and being quoted silly prices for less than ideal material; we came up trumps!

Border awaiting terracing

We found the most perfect stone only a stone's throw away - at Beach Hay, Far Forest!  It's so perfect that Chris builder and I plan to go and choose pieces ourselves on Monday morning at 8:30am - yawn!  We reckon on about 10 tons.  Yes, I know it sounds a lot but it's heavy old stuff and Chris is re-doing the grass steps in stone as well as the terracing and greenhouse path.  Besides, it means the rest of the York stone flags can go round the house.

For the followers who are wondering where we sneaked off to, have a look at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/CalifornianCoastCanyonCountryDeathValley2011

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/RainyRainForests

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/OregonCoastRoute2011

Latest in Outdoor Seat Cushions

Phillipa's garden furniture set

Sempervivum cushion

What else would you do with worn out garden furniture? Well, since Phillipa was the only person who believed I was the only person who could make use of her kindly donated garden furniture set, I had to prove her right!  After all, it had seen better days!  Sempervivums were my idea for winter.  They replaced the summer Aeoniums and actually are much more cushion-like.  Pity the table construction doesn't allow me to sink the planter through the weave as I was able to do with the chairs.  The chair 'cushion' pots are actually resting on the metal frame beneath.

THE GENEVER STONE

Elevated Octavius!

Haven't had him five minutes and already Octavius gets a new stand.  A present from Chris Genever; it was a former lamp post base.  Now he stands at the perfect height and what can't be seen is a common (or garden!) concrete slab laid on sand and cement cunningly concealed beneath it.  I bet Chris wouldn't have imagined it would pressed into use as soon as he left!  Sadly, I can't claim the credit for such brilliance as it was the other Chris's idea! The column just wasn't tall enough.  Note the ivy planted at the base.  How lucky that the stone is so similar in colour!  The base is of far superior quality to the actual statue!

The original lamp post base

NEW ADDITIONS

Androlia gate

A couple of new additions to the garden include another Androlia gate!!  We have yet to acquire either a couple of old gate posts or some old cast iron down pipe so, for now, it's sensitively chained to a tree at the top of the Fernery path.

Sun dial on Terrace Path

Octavius in the Sofa Border

Another acquisition has arrived at PTC following more successful bidding on a certain internet auction site which, in turn, required a trip to Bath, lunch with Ned and a few unforeseen adventures involving the AA!!!

Since we moved the sun dial into the sun (!), the gap reappeared - originally caused by losses due to the severe winter.  We were going to name him Oliver after the former owner but then settled for Octavius!  He certainly fills the gap and will improve (ie tone down!) with weathering.  I intend to paint him with a yummy mixture of yoghurt and chicken manure!  Now we can check on the time without having to climb into a border!

Octavius

Despite his girlie locks, he does have very well toned pecs!  More 'Summer in Autumn' shots can be seen at

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/PTCGardenOctober2011

The Great Indian Summer of 2011

Mr. Robin

It's the 15th October and still the height of summer here at PTC. That means the grass is still growing and that means it's still being mowed twice a week (Sigh!) and THAT means no time to remove all the Geraniums from their pots!  Not are we not usually mowing grass but, if we are, we don't usually find it hot work in October!

We're still picking raspberries and a Choysia is in full bloom as are some Polyanthus.  Not only are we having summer temperatures but it's sooooo dry - STILL!  So much for autumn planting!  Shrubs planted last week are requiring so much watering as are the pots around the house. 

Aptly named Autumn Bliss

All lawns were mowed and edged today and the stone path to the compost heap was reshaped.  It was a difficult job because the path narrows, has a camber and the conifer means that much of the grass on one side is dead!  I had a very musical companion for company! He was perched on the wheelbarrow inches away from where I was working and hopped into the Gleditsia for a photo shoot after being fed a worm.  

Stone path to compost heap

APPLE HARVEST

This was the last tree - Al already having picked and stored the apples from the other trees.  2011 has been an incredibly good year for apples nationwide and this tree was no exception. It was laden with both Bramley's and also a variety called Falstaff which was grafted on by our local expert: Rob Holloway about 3 years ago.  Very useful to have  2 apple varieties a desert and a cooker - both on one tree!

Yes, I did catch it!

Chris climbing out of the tree!

A little unorthodox practice as Chris picked the apples at the top of the tree and threw them down to us.  We caught most of them and they were all duly taken off to Clive's Fruit Farm near Upton on Severn for juicing, pasteurising and bottling.  How many bottles do you think we'll fill with this amount of apples?  Any guesses anyone?

Laden containers including a former toy basket!

I should mention that Rob was recently presented with a highly prestigious award - see link:

http://cideruk.com/cider_news/view/top_award_for_worcester_farm_manager/

Midsummer in October!

Summer morning in October!

As usual, it was practically dark when we finished!  BUT, we did get a lot of jobs done!  Not least planting the shrubs bought at Stone House Cottage garden:

• Ledum groenlandicum
• Heptacodium jasminoides
• Vibernum plicatum Mariessii

Fernery Path

Oh and for good measure; a Rhododendrum Princess Alice.  I defy you to spot the first 2 in this photo!  The smallest PTC Prunus died and so that was duly removed and its very healthy clematis moved to the tool shed balcony.  Patching the remaining square of turf was the challenge as we stole minute bits by edging elsewhere.  The summerhouse was painted with wood preserve as were all the finials around the Hen Pen.  (We won't mention Chris on the summerhouse roof and a borrowed and brand new shiny steps when he spilled the paint!!! However, it involved hot soapy water, much scrubbing and a pressure washer!!)  We have the greenhouse to do next week.  Wallflowers were also planted and Chris went round with his blower leaving everything looking pretty tidy. 

Paul, Ian & Al (after their roast pork!)

Unbelievably, we had lunch al fresco today - 

difficult to realise it's actually October!