Weekend Blitz

Under Gardener demonstrates simultaneous watering & dead heading!

Things were getting a little out of hand in the Sofa Border and around the pond so - time to blitz.  The Under Gardener was entrusted to remove peas and broad beans from the veg patch but he managed to keep up with all the burning and provide 2 meals for us all as well!!  Meanwhile, Chris and I lost count of the numbers of full wheelbarrows that kept trundling down to the bonfire,  All the Lysimachia was cut down from around the pond and a general weed and tidy up.  The holly and the Acer were both trimmed and all Dogwoods overhanging the grass.  The trees in the Sofa Border were 'brashed' and an old Cytisus removed and the Berberis had a haircut.  Late flowering shrubs had a summer prune the border had a good weed through. This has let in more light and more air and opened up a view across the border beneath the trees.

More light without the Cytisus.

It was then time to attack the Lamium in 'The Border With Nothing In It' (so named after a critical comment by Chris).  This was a real pain of a job and since it was never planted there, shouldn't have been allowed to suffocate so much of the area - and won't again! The last job was to move the old steerage hoe was moved to the Hen Pen and this morning three of the girls were all perched on first thing this morning.

Tidied pond edges

More Mystery 'Matoes

Can anyone put a name to these?

I'm sure I've seen these for sale in European supermarkets but have no idea of the name of the variety and wondered if anyone out there can name them.

Mystery Tomatoes Ripening

Mystery stripey tomato

Conference pears

Another unknown variety

Chris Genever's mystery tomatoes are ripening in the greenhouse as are the Conference pears in the orchard.  If anyone can identify any of Chris's tomatoes - particularly the stripey ones, I'd be really interested.  They certainly look very attractive and are very tasty.

As for the grapes: what the wasps didn't eat, the chickens did eat!  Peas and broad beans have all been eaten - by us!  We are waiting ever so impatiently for the runner beans to put on some growth.  I was hopelessly late sowing them and can hardly wait to pick some.


The longest is less than quarter of an inch (sigh!) The recent rain has greened up the lawns a little although there are still very obvious smaller brown patches.

More 'stripeys'

The end of a busy day

After another hard day's graft, it was time to sit down for sundowners and supper all supplied by Al!




As there was a bit of chill in the air we lit the fire for the first time this year (and last!) and all sat back enjoying darkness settling and the owls calling.

Trimming & Titivating Topiary!

Chris & his Helter Skelter

My results

Having done a summer prune on an Acer and cut the hedge in the lower border, it was time for a break from the noise of a hedge cutter.  Instead, for the couple of hours it took for two of us to snip away the Yew topiary; the only sound to be heard was that of gentle snipping of 2 pairs of hand shears. 

This is an annual task and Chris did the Helter Skelter whilst I did the 2 either side of the steps.  (Yes, I know they look a little wobbly but it's due to uneven growth on the one on the left!) The mess it makes can't be depicted photographically but, suffice to say, all peace and quiet was broken by Chris using his blower to blow away a whole year's build up of debris, dust and detritus inside each tree as well as the freshly accumulated clippings on the ground.  Having done these 3, it was off to clip the Yew by the greenhouse and then try to rid myself of the Yew clippings which filled both my hair, my clothing and my boots!

The creatures people have in their gardens!

Sometimes we gardeners grumble about animal damage in the garden. Here in the UK, many animals are unwelcome as they eat so many plants, shrubs and vegetables. Our friend Steve has these little creatures to deal with in his garden in Tsawwassen south of Vancouver Canada!!  I don't even know what these actually do in a garden and maybe they're not too much trouble but, I just couldn't resist putting Steve's photos of his own garden visitors on the blog!  Looks as if they might like plumbs and it would take more than rabbit wire to keep them out!

Casually agile!!

Do racoons like plumbs?

Butter definitely wouldn't melt.....!

Seasonal Produce

Autumn Kings & Lady Christl's

Potatoes continue to crop well.  We've eaten all the peas and more broad beans are fattening up. The runner beans are really late but flowering well and the carrots are perfection!  The onions are looking good and the pumpkin is sprawling across the empty potato rows.  The outside sink has been a boon as it's so much better being able to wash fresh vegetables before they come into the house.  With the recent heatwave, it's been used for full preparation!

Home made cherry brandy

Meanwhile the home made cherry brandy is infusing on the kitchen window sill - reminding us to shake them daily.  How could I turn down the chance to pick some of Maureen's delicious cherry crop? For anyone wanting to make some: fill a bottle one third full with pricked cherries. (Be warned - pricking fruit is the world's stickiest job!) Pour in 1" of sugar (which can be brown) and top up with brandy then shake until Christmas!  We went to Lidl's for brandy as I didn't see the point in using expensive brands. Roll on Christmas - hic!!