Recycling an old oak barrel

We've been planning to recycle this old oak barrel which has been sitting in the Creosote Yard for quite a long time.  In fact - a very long time! It took Chris (Genever) to get things up and running.  On the garage door canopy, Chris has put up guttering and down pipes, cut out the top of the barrel and installed a rain diverter.  The idea of the diverter is that when the barrel is full, excess water is diverted into what has always been, a very dry border under the garage window.  I shall now have a handy water source for watering pots and tubs at the front of the house.  The lid is awaiting some minor adaptation and the barrel aperture is just wide enough to dip in a watering can. How much nicer is this to look at than a plastic water butt?  Now we can recycle both an old barrel and the rainwater inside it.  We are just left wondering what the original contents might have been - hic!

October colour

In between what seems like a lot of projects on the go simultaneously, I couldn't fail to notice the colours on these five Acers.  This little collection seem to enjoy the shelter of the old cottage chimney where they enjoy protection from direct summer sun and cold winter winds.  In winter they also have the warmth from the chimney itself.

Rain Chain in Action

Our American rain chain

Sometimes rain is welcome even when it's not needed for plants.  We have been waiting to see how our new rain chain performs in heavy rain and with today's really vicious squalls and downpours it saw some real action! Pity these aren't sold in the UK - with our annual rainfall statistics, there's a definite gap in the market.  This one is made out of copper and over time will go a lovely shade of green as it weathers.  We can't wait to see it adorned with icicles!

Changing colours

Pheasant Berry (Leycesteria formosa)

As the days become shorter, it's difficult not to notice the changing colours in the garden at this time of year - even on the dullest day. 

It's no wonder that the birds are attracted to the shining  Pheasant Berry fruits.  The clashing day-glow orange and pink of the Spindle fruits could only occur in nature! Apparently, this Euonyous is so called because spindles were actually made from its wood and the fruits are poisonous enough to to have been used on arrow tips. 

Although the leaves of the Witch Hazel are very similar to our native Hazel (Corylus), it is not related at all.  Not only do the leaves look spectacular in autumn - much more so than our native Hazels, it's one of the earliest shrubs to flower in spring and the little spider-like yellow flowers are highly fragrant. It was first used by American Indians for skin remedies. It contains hydrosol which is an astringent and is still used today. Winners all round!

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Mollis)

Spindle (Euonymus europaeus)

Rain chain to drain

Some weeks back, we found ourselves using some downpipe outside the workshop elsewhere round the house.  In its place, we had the idea of trying out a rain chain and so rigged up some old chain just see how it worked.  We could see great potential but it in order to direct the water down the chain we used a plastic funnel so the overall appearance was less than ideal!  A 3 year old granddaughter also saw potential but only for swinging on and pulled it down!  We looked around for copper rain chains but found them prohibitively expensive until we found an American company with exceptionally helpful staff at www.RainChainSuperStore.com .  Well, to cut a very long story............we ordered from them and picked it up en route back from Alaska and Chris installed it just in time for the big break in the weather.  It works really well and we're very pleased with.  It's rather like a useful water feature that makes lovely tinkling sounds.  There is one drawback.........we need umbrellas to admire it in action!

Out with the old..............

........and in with the new.

After our Indian summer it seemed such a shame to lift all the geraniums in full flower.  The hot and dry weather has meant that watering has continued to be as necessary now as it was back in July.  For once, the forecasters seemed to have their fingers on the button so with the promise of storms and plummeting temperatures, it was out with summer bedding and in with bulbs, cyclamens, irises and violas.  The geraniums were cut back, potted up and put in the freshly cleaned out greenhouse for winter.    After a riot of so much colour so late in the season, the pots and tubs all look a tad bare now but, hopefully in March, they will all spring into life once again.  I have layered the different bulbs in an effort to prolong continuity of colour.  Well, that's about half of the containers done...............!

Good enough to eat?

Rosa Moyesii in flower...

...and a Moyesii hip

Aren't these rose hips just amazing? Definitely much to be said for not deadheading and I love the flagon shape of the Rosa Moyesii.  Sould I be making rose hip syrup?  They certainly look delicious and I do remember it tasting positively yummy.