September has happened. It is getting a little more chilly at night, it is getting darker at both ends of the day and we have had some rain. Huzzah! Not enough rain though, not nearly enough.
There is a new hanging basket at the front of the house, an autumn/winter basket which I bought from Thompson and Morgan. I think it is rather lovely and was reduced to a nice price in one of their promotions. Don't worry, the petunias that were here have not been discarded, just moved around to the back door.
At the side fence the Mina lobata is flowering on the other side and wandering over to say hello to the passionflower. This is making me very happy. I am also impressed that both plants have been very drought tolerant. I did not expect the annual Mina Lobata to be tolerant as I really did not water if very much. It might think I forgot it.......
In the back garden the climbing petunias are starting to run out of puff. They have been flowering for months so they are forgiven for this. I cannot imagine I can keep them alive over the winter but I will bring them under cover and try.
The pomegranite that I have had for years living in a pot, has had its best year ever for flowering. It has been a delight. I leave it out all year round and it has survived well so far.
A signifier of autumn for me is the flowering of the hexadeci
mal - or Heptacodium miconiodes to its mother. This shrub is really quite large these days but prunes down well once it has finished flowering.In the Courtyard Garden the bananas have had a fabulous summer. I am now starting to keep an eye on night temperatures because it is likely they will take a sudden dip. When this happens they all move into the conservatory for the winter. It's always a big moving day. The various begonias will also move back indoors and the pelagoniums.
I got very excited this year as my Strelitzia, after waiting six years, decided to develop a flower bud. Sadly though it is not opening and looks like it is dying back. What a shame, but I now have hope for next year.
Look how green the lawn is looking already. It has been growing like bonkers since we had some rain and I have had to mow it a couple of times in quick succession.
The asters are flowering and the big bees love them.
The hostas have taken well in Mavis, she seems happy with them.
The cornflowers in the sustainable hanging basket are still flowering. I do not change this basket with the seasons, I sometimes pop some annual meadow seeds into it but I think this year I forgot and this is self-sown from last year.
The Pond Border is dominated by the yellow perennial sunflowers that need a lot of thinning out. The sedums are also doing their thing providing colour and food for pollinators. This border is disappointing at the moment. It has been for a few years. I need to take it in hand and give it a bit of a kick up the bum. It needs more colour, it needs more attention from me. I will endeavour.
Whilst the garden is recovering from the drought, the damage is still evident.
I don't expect much from the Spring Border this time of year (clue in the name) but it is looking particularly shabby. I need to sort it out.
and the Prairie Borders are not prairie any more. I need to rename them as the grasses have all but disappeared. They are now the echinops and perennial sunflower borders and I have to admit I like them in this iteration. They are pollinator magnets.
There are signs of recovery in the Wild Garden. This magnolia is putting out a few new leaves, just in time for autumn...
and someone has been burrowing under the Portmeirion Bench. A fox maybe?
I am pretty sure this camellia is dead.
and the cornus is giving me seriously dead vibes as well.
But the medlar is meddling so all is well with the world.
The pleached hornbeams need their annual prune. Last year I paid someone to do it, I think I should do it myself this yet but it isn't happening so maybe.....
The Exotic Border is looking ok. The two taller tree ferns have very short fronds this year, I think I have not watered them enough. I have tried, honestly.
The edgeworthia is recovering well and this is a huge relief.
The Choysia is confused and flowering again. The scent is lovely.
These seeds pods by the pond (flag irises?) are fabulous. Look at the colour and texture. Just wonderful.
and the pond? Where is the water? We have had some rain, but as said above, not enough. We have had warm breezy weather and the water that was there has gone again. What a worry. With all the warnings about El Nino I wonder what the autumn and winter will bring for the garden.
Until next time
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