Mists and Cobwebs

It was one of those mornings when as soon as I looked outside, I reached for the camera and rushed out into the garden.  Mist, cobwebs, dew dripping off leaf tips and hazy sunshine.  As if that wasn't enough; robins were singing in the trees and jays screaming across the orchards down in the valley.  Within an hour, the sun was shining, the mist melted away and the cobwebs regained their cloaks of invisibility.  The trouble is, as soon as they do that, it's impossible not to walk into them and then they stick to your face!  They're just everywhere!!  More cobwebs can be seen at:

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

Winter Protection for Wood

Herb Garden fence

Genever/Thompson Gate

King Genever's Throne

It's that time of year when it helps to protect wood that's exposed to the elements and with winter not too far away, the paint brush has been on overtime! None of the wood in any of these constructions has ever had any other kind of treatment. It's all looking very smart for winter and there's a comforting smell of creosote in the air!  Having done that lot in an afternoon, it's now my turn for some personal preservation treatment - hic!

The Barn

Kay's seat

More Autumnal Mornings

It was one of those perfect mist laden autumn mornings.  The sun broke through the mist which lingered in the valley just that little bit longer and it remained a sunny but perfectly still autumnal day. 

The apples in the surrounding orchards mirroring the sunlight like jewels in the trees but not a single leaf moving in the still air.  The top lawn border a full on rebellion of colour as all the Dahlias are strutting their stuff along with the Rudbekias and the Golden Rod (not much of a name for a plant!)  In fact this border is now Chris's favourite!  Al's Costco Dahlia bargains have grown into giants with blooms as big as dinner plates.  The late flowering Clematis are in full bloom over Kay's arbour drenching it in a shower of pink.  The Glauca rose reflecting the bright sunshine with their glossy red hips.  The girls either lazily preening or sunbathing in freshly dug mini craters with outstretched wings on the warm earth just stirring for a handful of corn. Much of the locally grown corn has been already been combined and the robins are already heralding the end of summer with their doleful songs.  More pictures can be seen at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/AMorningInAugust#5916938920238837282

.....Ok. That's enough sentimentality - there's still watering to be done!

It's Curtains for Cordelia

Cordelia

Cordelia eventually had her trellis re-erected (well after roast chicken was consumed!)  Now we need to source some caps and finials for the 4 posts.  As the smaller old posts had mostly rotted, they were replaced with larger 4" round.  Her two wing panels had also rotted and it just so happened that we had a pair by the studio doing nothing. Hopefully the ivy which does provide a sense of age, will get going again.  As it's an old repro rick stone, I'm positively encouraging the ivy to do its stuff again and, with any luck, it will cover the trellis too providing a curtain of ivy for her backdrop.

Diversion Progress

Laying out stepping stones on the other side of the tree

Cutting the turf to fit

As well as the usual maintenance, I creosoted Cordelia's trellis and also the new 8' posts.  We went over to Border Counties Reclamation for 11 more stepping stones and then ordered 9 sq mtrs of turf.  Yesterday, we lifted the ferns and levelled the soil before laying the stepping stones and then the turf.  There were only 3 roots which we were just too high to lay turf on so we left them exposed - it is after all a woodland path through the Fernery!  All this was pretty time consuming.  Laying turf round a bend wasn't the easiest task in the world and we decided to leave final edge shaping until it has taken root.  As you can see, the golden rule of laying turf is being followed: water, water again, water some more and finally, keep watering!

Another group of artists visit the garden

Another group of artists in the garden this Thursday has resulted in another gift of a little watercolour from Judy and another donation for St. Richard's Hospice.  They brought lovely sunshine and gave me another opportunity to catch up on news from WLTC - my old tennis club thanks to Chloe.

More of Judy's enthusiastic and very impressionistic work can be seen at JudyFoulsham@artweb.com

PTC By Night

It was such a warm evening, we sat outside again listening to the owls and watching the bats so I took a few shots without a tripod which aren't too bad - considering.   The trellis looks softer now the climbers have put on a bit of growth. Kays arbour and arch also look all the better for having planting growing up them. It has to be remembered that they were all dug and, having spent the winter laid in the veg patch; weren't replanted until this April.

 More can be seen at:

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