Little Things

It's a time of looking for diversions.  I'm trying to think about and enjoy small things.  News is worrying, the weather too. 

Fox in a windy garden

 Outside the sky is a dark grey and the trees in the garden are whirling their branches around with abandon, yet still the Goldfinches fly towards the swinging feeders in a mad flurry, keen to top themselves up with energy before dusk appears. 

Well, I wrote those words on Saturday, on Sunday morning we woke up to find the bird feeders on the floor and the pole snapped in two places.   Luckily it missed the greenhouse windows as it fell.

 The honeysuckle arch had also collapsed and broken. The only other damage appears to be the hanging basket which was dangling on one chain.  Luckily it was rescued before the plants fell out.  We forgot to take it down during the storm.

We popped out to the garden centre at Trentham yesterday morning and bought a cheap and cheerful replacement feeder as the birds (and squirrels) were confused as to where their source of food had gone to.

It was such a wet day at Trentham yesterday but there is plenty to see there at the moment.  I've done a collage of some of the things on offer, photos taken early last week.  We went for a coffee and walk there after I'd had my three monthly blood test (for the PVJak2) it was good to get out in the fresh air.  

The Staffy trail is still around the lake and there is a new Shaun the Sheep trail around the gardens.  Of course Halloween is near so there were pumpkins and of course a few skeletons, it's that time of year.

As I've very little to write about at the moment.  I'll be back in November.

Take care.

In the Garden

 The Tulip Tree has been having an early Autumn.  

There are leaves everywhere.

We are gradually taking out some of the old, unproductive raised beds to create a new space.  We'll think about what to replace them with through the rest of this year.  New higher, raised beds that badgers can't get into? A flat seating area?  A new shed in which to keep the garden furniture over Winter?  A summer house or gazebo?  We'll see.

The Holly hedge along the back of the garden has lots of red berries.  I think Autumn has arrived early this year.

There are lots of apples on the tree.  Many were removed a few weeks ago but there are still lots of fruit weighing the branches down.  We've had to prop them up with canes to stop them snapping off.

I'm not sure when they will be ready but I think they will be much smaller this year.  I miss the plum tree we had to take down a few years ago as I'm fond of Victoria plums at this time of year.  I'd love to have a Damson or Greengage tree.  Fruit trees seem to grow well in this garden.

 I think the apples and the holly berries are the most colourful things in the garden at the moment.  All is very dull and dreary after the hot weather.  We've lost Hydrangeas, Japanese Anemones and peonies, all brown with crumbling papery leaves.  I'm hoping some of them may revive next year.

What we do have now is rain.  At last!  

Much needed of course to fill up the pond and the water butts.

Of course it is a holiday weekend here.  I don't think we'll be going very far, so it's a good job I've got three library books to read.  Oops, Wilfred sneaked into the photo.  He came as a free gift when I ordered a jacket on line about three years ago.

Have a lovely, peaceful weekend everyone, wherever you are.

In the Garden

 The garden is bit of a mess, mainly because it has been too hot to work out there but also due to lack of rain.  The grass yellow and dry, shrubs with crisp brown leaves, flowers and most produce stunted.  Such a shame.   

The three water butts are empty, we try to save tap water into jugs, mostly from water run whilst waiting for it to turn warm enough for washing up also any water used for washing and rinsing fruit and vegetables.

The 'no mow' area at the top of the garden has now been cut down, you can see where it was from the very faded area around the seat.

Hardly any sweet peas, strawberries or gooseberries this summer.  The tomatoes in the greenhouse have taken ages to ripen but at last one of the varieties has started to reach the expected size and colour. 

These are Golden Sunrise.

Garden visitors still arrive for food and water.  

Vixen lazing in the garden around 6.30p.m. in the evening.

Badger hoping for worms but the soil is too dry.

Linnet on the bird feeders. We sometimes see up to four at a time.  

There's always one that escapes notice - a marrow sized courgette.

Rainy Days

 Rainy days can be a nuisance but they can also be quite beautiful.  Twice this week we have got drenched whilst out walking even with weather coats and umbrellas. Today was just such a day.

The car park at the Dorothy Clive Gardens was busier than we thought they would be in such inclement weather. The friendly person at the entrance told us there were actually very few visitors and that the cars belonged to the 'Wednesday Weeders'. I guess the volunteer weeders are used to all weathers.  The gardens were looking wonderful.

We explored the bottom half of the garden in lovely sunlight but the skies soon darkened and the heavens opened.  We found a dry space in the coffee shop so early elevenses were in order.  Then it was out again in weak sunshine to enjoy the rest of the gardens.

The flower borders were looking so beautiful.  Alliums, Astrantia, roses, peonies and foxgloves.  All a treat for the eyes and a mindful escape from the woes of the world.  The colours and colour combinations were so attractive.

Of course I took far too many photos, so I've selected just a few of my favourites. 

All for now

In the Garden

 It's been far too hot to work or even sit in the garden this last few days.  The pop up gazebo was put up last Saturday but was only used until Monday when it became far too hot even in the shade to be outside until about eight o'clock in the evening. 

The warmer weather has encouraged everything to flower.  We are inundated with foxgloves.

Bees love them.

The yellow rose bush we inherited when we first moved here has had more flowers on it than I have ever seen before.  I'm not sure what type it is but the flowers have a lovely scent and progress from dark yellow to almost white as they mature.

Yellow Flag Iris in the pond.  They have taken over again this May.  Each year they get thinned out.  These too were inherited from the previous owners.

They and the other plants are draining the pond so we have had to top it up from the rainwater butts.

Also in the pond we've had Damselflies flitting around.  Two pairs.  

I think these are the more common Large Red Damselflies.

It was interesting to see them using the pond over several days.

There are loads of little apples forming on the apple tree.  I guess a lot of these will drop but it's good to see them after all the lovely blossom.

Strawberries, gooseberries, elder flower and sweet peas are on the way.  

Last but not least my very favourite plant the Philadelphus  Belle Etoile or 'Mock Orange'.  I'd wanted one for ages and we bought this last year.  Many years ago I worked in a 15th century hall and behind our museum office was a herb garden bordered by a mock orange hedge. The scent in the air as we made our way across the courtyard to the museum stores was wonderful.  I looked forward to it flowering each year.

There is so much to enjoy and  look forward to in the garden.  Much needed to calm the mind and lift the spirits in this very uncertain world.

All for now.

Into January

Well I did say in my last post that I hoped the wintery weather would stay away for a few more days, but of course, it didn't listen.  After a light dusting of snow on Sunday we woke up to more snow on Monday morning.  Bags were packed and we were ready to travel.

The garden always looks pretty covered in snow and the sunlight was a bonus.  Photos above and below taken from our bedroom window.

The sun in the trees in the school nature reserve behind our hedge was so beautiful.

I ventured outside to take the photo above.  It was time to leave home and see how far we could get along our journey.

The roads out of the city were very slowly passable.  As you can see it says -5°C on the dashboard. By the time we reached Ashbourne and beyond the roads were almost clear, it was a good job we decided to at least try to get out of the city. 

My cousin's funeral went well and her long life was celebrated with both laughter and tears.  When we visited her in hospital back in November she was proud of being ninety four and three quarters and was insistent the three quarters were important. We gathered afterwards at her favourite restaurant - link -where it was 'fish and chips' for all and a gift of flowers for her cousins and friends.  My cousin and her husband had their wedding reception at the restaurant way back in 1951.  Apparently I was there as a babe in arms, just a few months old.

We had to leave the flowers in the car overnight as I thought the hotel room might be too warm.  They survived well until we got home.

We stopped briefly at Carsington Water on the way home for a quick leg stretch but it was so very cold.  The robin above was happy to pose for a photo.

The water in the reservoir was still very low.

The paths were too icy to walk safely.  We decided to make for home and stock up on food on the way.   Thankfully, we don't have to venture out for a few days because another storm is expected.  Will there be more snow?

All for now.  Take care.