More Autumn Colour

Too many colours to show in one post so, here's a collage. More photos can be seen here: And then the sun came out! I figured we need to make the best of some sunshine when autumn can be so dark and dank!

And then the mists lifted & the sun came out!

Back to Brassicas

January King

Bold Brassicas

Whilst other trees and plants are dazzling us with their colourful leaves, things in the vegetable patch are look a tad more somber! It would be more than a little worrying if the brassicas turned orange or red. Having said that, the chard is looking pretty colourful even though the cabbages remain merely green! We have January King's, Hispi's and some Purple Sprouting. They do get full marks for clinging on to water droplets! Chris gave us a rather agricultural bird scarer which spins round. Hopefully it'll deter thieving pigeons!

Dewy droplets

Pigeon prevention!

Glowing & Growing in the Gloom!

Euonymous europaeus - Spin

Liriodenron tulipifera - Tulip Tree

On definitely the darkest, dampest, dankest day we've had this October, the leaf colour in and around the garden is really striking. It didn't seem ever properly light today and yet despite a complete absence of sunshine the trees appeared to glow in the gloom. The Acers in pots by the chimney have few leaves left whilst elsewhere in the garden, they positively gleam with colour. I know it means lots of work clearing them all up but with colour like this - who cares? At their best now is the Tulip tree and Spindleberries with the cherries and the birches close behind.

An HDR shot of the Lower Lawn (Tulip Tree left & Spindleberry 2nd right)

Breaking News!

THE GARDENS OF WICHENFORD 2017

Despite the untimely death of our organiser: Alan Green, we're excited and pleased to announce that The Gardens of Wichenford will hold their open weekend on 24th & 25th June 2017.  We had our very first meeting last night and raised a glass to Alan. Obviously it can't be exactly the same format and it's very early days but the decision has been made and the dates decided upon! Keep an eye out here: Wichenford Open Gardens   We are also delighted to announce that Chris has  elicited an agreement from the chairman of the South Worcestershire Bonsai Society to hold another bonsai exhibition here at Pear Tree Cottage!

Last time, not only did they put on an amazingly professional exhibition but they also gave demonstrations and master classes in their fascinating discipline. It was a huge hit and everyone was stunned by the high standard of their exquisite exhibits! They warmly invite new members to join their club. For more details, contact:

	Malcolm Styles
	malcolmstyles@yahoo.com
Tel No:	01905 455351
Venue:	Claines British Legion,Cornmeadow Lane, Worcester
Day:	second Tuesday 7.30pm

Breaking News!

THE GARDENS OF WICHENFORD 2017

Despite the untimely death of our organiser: Alan Green, we're excited and pleased to announce that The Gardens of Wichenford will hold their open weekend on 24th & 25th June 2017.  We had our very first meeting last night and raised a glass to Alan. Obviously it can't be exactly the same format and it's very early days but the decision has been made and the dates decided upon! Keep an eye out here: Wichenford Open Gardens   We are also delighted to announce that Chris has  elicited an agreement from the chairman of the South Worcestershire Bonsai Society to hold another bonsai exhibition here at Pear Tree Cottage!

Last time, not only did they put on an amazingly professional exhibition but they also gave demonstrations and master classes in their fascinating discipline. It was a huge hit and everyone was stunned by the high standard of their exquisite exhibits! They warmly invite new members to join their club. For more details, contact:

	Malcolm Styles
	malcolmstyles@yahoo.com
Tel No:	01905 455351
Venue:	Claines British Legion,Cornmeadow Lane, Worcester
Day:	second Tuesday 7.30pm

The Story of Mrs. Slingsby's Walnut Tree & Chris's Missing Nuts!

Chris's nuts (Ahem!)

A perfect walnut!

More than holding its own above the hedge line

Mrs. Slingsby's Walnut now 9 years old!

Nine years ago, Chris brought a self set walnut tree from the late Mrs' Slingby's garden and planted it in the hedge line behind the tool shed. For a number of years it was jealously guarded and prevented from being overgrown by hedging plants in its baby years. For the very first time last year, it bore fruit. We were away when the nuts were ripe. Chris picked all 5 and even sent us photographs whilst we were in Moab having breakfast! When we returned Chris ceremoniously presented us with our very first 5 walnuts from our 8 year old tree! The following day and without even thinking Al cracked them all and he and I shared them between us without a thought for poor Chris! For a whole year we weren't allowed to forget for a single moment this gross and thoughtless oversight!

This year, he wasn't going to miss out. For months Chris kept a VERY strict eye on the now 6 walnuts growing - hoping that they weren't going to be found by grey squirrels or us! Every Saturday Chris checked and, more importantly counted the six walnuts.

This Saturday, he checked their status and, quelle horreur! Three were missing! We searched around on the ground beneath and to my relief found the remaining 3 - phew! After all work was finished, they were carefully shared out - 2 each. The most perfect and delicious walnuts in the world!! I reckon for such a young tree to bear fruit after 8 years is pretty good going. Hopefully, we're now forgiven for last year's oversight and our special tree will go on to bear more bountiful yields!

Hebe Central!

5 planted on the left of the path and...

another 5 on the right...

Time to sort out the scrubby old Lavenders which hadn't enjoyed our winters of the rather too damp conditions and one or two Hebes overgrown with ivy.  In other words - have a good old sort out!  An old conifer root and a sprawling woody Cistus was removed.  Then it was off to Laylocks (with my prize money burning holes in my pocket!) to buy 10 new Hebes. I like the way they form dense evergreen clumps and mounds in front of the house and can hardly wait for these to fill their allotted spaces!

The rose on the right of the steps was looking very tired and drab until Chris put his hedge cutter over it and gave it a serious haircut since, when it's never looked back and is covered in bloom again!

making the grand total of 10!