The short Indian summer has been perfect for sea swimming and in recent weeks the water has been at its warmest this summer. However, the garden has not done so well and it looks dry and dull before its time. I have little hope of stunning autumn colours as many of the leaves are have already turned brown. There is little colour in the garden at the moment, so the hydrangea have been a godsend.
This double flowered hydrangea goes through an array of colours starting with a pale blue followed by sage green and then salmon pink. You could almost convince yourself that you have a range of different shrubs all wrapped up in one. This is phase one.
Phase number three in the cycle.
I can’t believe that my corn plants have done so well. They survived three gales without moving an inch and are now producing young sweet corn that beats anything that you would buy in a shop. I had disastrous onions, but fantastic corn. Gardening is always full of surprises.
I am delighted to say that my few apples are doing very well. I believe it has been an excellent year for most gardeners here. I am particularly proud of these as I did not know that the trees existed until a few weeks ago. I have no idea what this apple is but if anyone is interested it does very well in an overcrowded, shady hedgerow.
Oregano wins my vote for the ‘insect’ flower of the year. It was still in blossom when the butterflies finally arrived and the bees have been feasting on them for months. They look rather ragged now, but I would not prune them for love or money as long as there are butterflies around.
I have a number of different crab apples but Malus ‘Gorgeous’ is the best by far. It sits in a row of crab apple trees all of which have suffered from the late storms earlier in the year. It is unscathed and the crop is as impressive as the previous years.
The ground in the copse by the house is full of earthballs and puffballs an it is almost impossible to walk in the area without treading on them. Some of the puffballs are edible but I have never seen one that would appeal to me. I will leave them to the creatures in the garden that feast on them.
The Inula hookeri is well past its best and did not receive many visits from butterflies this year. However, the shieldbugs seem happy with the seed heads. As the plant is very invasive, this may be its last year in the garden although it will be difficult to eradicate as its roots as as extensive as bindweed.
My robin has been coming for its mealworms twice day. He is now sharing with two blackbirds and a wren. He is very friendly and often visits when I am taking a break. He has lost his rather untidy coat and is looking sleek and fit for the winter.
After years of inertia, this succulent has started to produce regular and profuse flowers. They are very cheerful at this time of the year and are still attracting bees. This always guarantees a permanent spot in the garden.
A throwback to a few weeks ago. This small garden has taken on a life of its own in the last few years. It is very sheltered and is a favourite with the wrens and other smaller birds. I am looking forward to the visitors who should be arriving soon. I had better stock up on bird food to supplement the many berries and seeds that are in the garden.