No exercise group this week as the village hall is having work done but as there were two lovely days on Monday and Tuesday, I got lots more clearing done in the garden and once again the garden waste bin is almost full just two days after being emptied.
I cleared the Passion flower right back to ground level as it was spreading everywhere and took the insect protection off the Purple Sprouting Broccoli, which promptly all fell over - they are too tall and leaning away from the fence. Might get something edible off them eventually.
It's been a week of endings in the garden
The last of............
..............the beetroot, as there weren't many I've only been eating now and again to spread the enjoyment.
..............the courgettes, one plant has lasted far longer than normal and I took 5 more courgettes off before pulling it up and adding to my compost bin.
.........the autumn raspberries, such a surprise at how many I've had considering there are only a few canes.
.........the tiny plum tomatoes, the very dead plants are now in the council garden waste bin and a bowl of tomatoes in the fridge.
.........the parsley plants, divided from a pot bought in the spring from Aldi, the section I put outside was eaten by slugs(?) and the two in the greenhouse had come to an end. Need to buy another pot to divide and over winter.
My church visits 'happened' to take me close to Bridge Farm Barns, a cafe/gift shop/vintage shop place to look at what lovely things they have in for Christmas - very pricey though and I bought nothing except a coffee and cheese scone ( it would have been rude not to and I went without breakfast specially!)
When I got home I got my Christmas list book out of the drawer ready to start noting down presents including what I already have for the Christmas Hampers for my sister and sister in law. Checked what cards I have - seem to have bought rather a lot half price in the January sales - plenty for this year for sure. The problem with having several family birthdays all within a few weeks in October and November is that it's difficult to think about Christmas presents when I've only just asked what they would like for birthdays.
Thursday was wet and as I drove to Diss for shopping I couldn't remember the last time I'd driven in rain as it's been another dry summer and early Autumn for us in Suffolk but the weather has become much more autumnal in the last couple of days.
This week I've been grateful for
- Fine warm weather for garden clearing and to save on heating oil
- Living in a quiet part of the world
- The food from my garden
I'll be back Monday - Hope you have a good weekend
Sue
Definitely more Autumnal here too - after those lovely warm days it is now COLD and raining daily. Ah well. The wheel turns, and the leaves are falling now.
ReplyDeleteI expect you are already deciding what to grow in the garden next year, and as for sort your Christmas gifts out, good luck! We are all having a low-spend Christmas, although G normally goes a bit mad (she loves to give gifts).
I' would like a low spend Christmas but have too many people in the family!
DeleteI have had a huge crop of late summer raspberries, I am still picking them, thank you for your help with broad beans, I've never sown at this time of year before.
ReplyDeleteEating the last of the raspberries was the worst thing. I just love them
DeleteThings look brown and wrinkled in the garden now, don't they - definitely the time of last things - last tomatoes, last courgettes. But hasn't it been a delicious summer harvest.
ReplyDeleteIt's cold here this morning too but should warm up so no heating on - not just yet. I have dug out my warmer winter knits though. :-)
Have a lovely weekend.
xx
I think shorts are put away now until next year - sadly
DeleteYes, Autumn is definitely here with Winter close behind. To me Spring and Autumn (my favourie seasons) don't seem to last as long as Summer (too hot) and Winter (too cold) or is that just me. I don't buy Christmas cards anymore as I make them all and I have made 42 so far, more than I need for this year, but I won't need to make so many for next year. My daughter and eldest grand-daughter both have birthdays in November, but it's easy to buy presents for them as we ask and they give us choices for what to buy them. Much easier. Enjoy your day off, (smile).
ReplyDeleteWe now seem to have birthdays through much of the years except the 3 summer month
DeleteThe birthdays in our family run from January to April and then we’re done for the year. You are well organised with Christmas already-I need to start sewing as I am doing a Christmas Fair in mid November for charity. Catriona
ReplyDeleteHow you can make lots of things for your fair . I expect there will soon be posters up for lots around here too
DeleteThat time of year when everything winds down and we bring in the last of the harvest is well and truly upon us now you've. done. You've done good though this year. You've had quite a few things out of your garden. if memory serves. it's much colder here today. My living room is barely 19 degrees Celsius. Colder weather forecast too. I hope you can do something to the purple sprouting. that always used to be one of my favourite vegetables and I seemed to eat nothing but that throughout the winter months. The more we pick the more it gave. I suppose it's time I started thinking about the small handful of Christmas gifts I need to give this year. It will be upon us before we know it's here.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping the the PSB will be OK even if they are leaning a bit. I might put some canes in to hold them a bit more upright
DeleteThe only month we don't have family birthdays is January. I'm thankful to be living in a peaceful part of the world.
ReplyDeleteWe have a cluster of birthdays through Autumn but then it stops until 1 in February - thank goodness
DeleteIt's worrying how quickly things can go from normal to war in some parts of the world
DeleteI've started thinking about Christmas too. Yesterday I made 12 cards. I know I made too many last year and need to find them to see how many total I'll need. Yard work awaits me and may try to tackle some today.
ReplyDeleteI like to buy my Christmas cards from charity shops when they have their January sales
DeleteYes. I am ticking off gifts as well.
ReplyDeleteChristmas come too quickly once we are into October!
DeleteI’ve decided to get Christmas done early…as in all the family presents. And I’ve gathered together some bits and pieces to make some simple cards! The garden centres nearby are already full of Christmas decorations!…too soon for my liking but I guess that they need to make as much money as they can!
ReplyDeleteI've no idea what the family would like for presents this year - lots to sort out.
DeleteClearing the garden is a job well done. I've still got to cut back 3 ornamental grasses, my island bed of Amsonia (Bluestone) and a Fall blooming clematis. The frost has not hit so I am delaying the trim back. Like you, my Christmas cards were bought last year and I have yet to shop for gifts.
ReplyDeleteThere is still so much cutting back to do especially two huge Buddleias, have to do it a bit at a time now.
DeleteIt is cool and very fall like here as well. Won't be long before the snow falls so we are busy getting all the yard put to bed. Still lots to clear out of pots and baskets here. I hope to finish that tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Well, the sudden chill was a shock to the system. We put central heating and underfloor heating on yesterday late afternoon. As my husband suffers from Parkinson’s and weighs only 9st 4lb (weighed fully dressed at his pre-op hospital appointment last week) and is having some pain from a hernia which thankfully is being operated on in two weeks I cannot let him feel cold. I am happy I remembered to bring the orange tree in last night, which will go back outside until December once this cold snap passes. Re: your PSB, if you have some good homemade compost ready I would give your plants a good collar of mulch. PSB like to be planted deep which also helps to support them. Get your heel in and push the surrounding soil firmly in and stake them too. Beautiful sunshine out there now, and suddenly the trees are starting to burnish against a clear blue sky. Now the ground is softening I’ve been tinkering with my woodland edge this week - splitting a bronze carex into three, moving some Verbena bonariensis from the pergola and splitting and replanting ground cover such as Pulmonaria, brunnera and geranium maccrorhizum. Soon all these new ‘free’ plants will be covered with a thick layer of leaves ready for a spring awakening. Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteIce on the car windscreen at 8am Sunday morning certainly was a surprise.
DeleteIt sounds like not a bad week. My sister has been away in Tenerife where it's been really hot - I bet she's not liking the chilly weather! Such a shock after the 39C temp she showed me the other day - yikes!
ReplyDeleteNot been that cold here yet, but I'm already moaning about having cold feet. Sigh. It's time to get the winter clothes out.