30/10/2014

The October Garden

Has it really been a month since my last post! October really does seem to have just flown by, and the garden has taken a bit of a back seat while I've been busy with other things.


The exceptionally mild weather has left the garden looking fairly good considering it's nearly November. Deciduous trees are only just starting to lose their leaves, and many plants still have flowers that usually would have stopped blooming long ago. I've been out there today doing a quick tidy up and cleaning out the pond filter and the weather was positively balmy!




I actually spent a few days planting up all my winter bedding and placing the tender summer plants into the growhouse and coldframe, expecting winter to arrive, but they are still flowering away in there and I wish I'd left them out a bit longer now. Never mind, the job is done and the winter pansies and wallflowers couldn't have lasted much longer in their tiny pots anyway.



The mild weather is set to continue over the weekend, and there is nothing to do in the garden except sit out with a mug of tea and enjoy everything before winter does arrive. Bliss, and well deserved I think after all the work that has gone into the garden during the year.



Now I will sit back and think of all the things I want to do next year to complete this years garden overhaul. I've made a list of plants I'd like, because, when is there ever not a list of plants a gardener wants! And plans are afoot to revamp the patio area, including the wooden furniture which has sadly started to rot. 




Until next time, Happy Gardening!

45 comments:

  1. You're garden is still looking wonderful, even this late in the year. I really love your stepping stone path.

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  2. Your garden still has flowers, like it's not ready for winter! I know the feeling, we gardeners always missing that plant we don't have. I also have a list of them :) 'till the next time!

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  3. The round slabs that created the path is lovely :-) Love the ornaments you have also. Well, everything seems to look ok even when you say your garden took the back seat lately. Happy planning for next year's plantings!

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  4. Dear Paula, thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. Yes, you absolutely have to go and see Mottisfont Abbey. Even if you are not so much into roses, the perennials that are planted in between them are worth a visit as well in my opinion.
    But now to your garden! It is sooo... lovely! Honestly I don't get it how you make it look so pretty at this time of the year. I have no doubt that you put tons of hard work into it. Besides all the beautiful plants I noticed that you have tucked a lot of garden objects into the beds and I think that makes the garden so very interesting looking. Well, I guess I learned something here from you and intend to put more "non-plant stuff" into my garden as well. Wishing you many more mild days, so that you can sit in your garden with a cup of tea and just enjoy it. Warm regards,
    Christina

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    1. Yes, I do have a lot of garden ornaments dotted all over Christina. In fact, I've had to reign myself in as I was in danger of crowding the garden with them! They do definitely add interest when not many plants are flowering though.

      Mottisfont Abbey is now on my list of places to visit next year :-) .

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  5. Your gardens are so lovely for October with blooms and everything still looking so lush. I enjoyed the visit!

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  6. Your garden looks more like September than the end of October. Love the Cyclamen. Our autumn has also been quite mild.

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  7. I like your emphasis on plants that stay green, it is so restful and inviting. it looks so much prettier than some gardens that are full of yellow and brown plants in fall and winter. I rely heavily on hardy geraniums too, especially Rozanne is keeping on blooming.

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    1. Yes, I do have lots of greenery Hannah and it really helps to keep the garden looking lively in Autumn and Winter. What would we do without the good old hardy geraniums hey! They are such easy going plants.

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  8. Your garden does still have summer-time lushness! Our weather has been wonderful, but the temperature is predicted to plummet this weekend with some frost. Some are even saying snow! And even today the weather is warm enough to be out without a sweater or jacket. Well, our weather tends to have its ups and downs! I still have some tropical plants out that I need to bring in...

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    1. Ooh, time to get the winter woolies out then Debs! I'm sitting next to the window and the sun is streaming through at the moment, but like yours, our weather is due to take a dip in temperature next week. I can't say I'm looking forward to that much.

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  9. Your garden is still looking exceptionally lovely.

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  10. Your garden looks lovely and the pictures don' t look like the end of October I can' t remember an October like this before.. What a delight to have got everything in order and to be able to sit enjoy it. Somehow I never get to this stage.

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    1. No, it still feels like September doesn't it Chloris. I have a feeling we won't be saying that next week though if the temperature dips as predicted.

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  11. That path down the middle of your garden is wonderful! I need to do something similar here. You have been busy with all the potting up! Very impressive!

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    1. Yes, I love my path too. One day I'll get around to finishing the part that should fork off to the left.

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  12. Hi Paula, Your garden looks wonderful. I had to do a double take on where you're located because you described my weather a lot. Most trees are just starting to lose their leaves and there are still a lot of plants blooming. And I'm also doing a lot of planning for next year's garden. Don't you love it?

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    1. It's wonderful Grace! Being able to really enjoy the garden in October instead of viewing it behind a door while it rains and is cold has been great.

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  13. Your garden still looks so lovely for so late in the year, Paula. Definitely time to take a well-deserved break to sit back and enjoy it all! I still have bulbs to plant and some clean-up to do. I just couldn't bring myself to pull any annuals while they were still looking good, but a killing frost Wednesday night did them in, so it's back to work I go:)

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    1. Ha ha, you sound just like me Rose, it feels like some kind of crime to pull up flowers that are still looking pretty. What a shame you got frost, I'm pretty sure it won't be too long before we get some too though so I'm pleased to have most of my tender plants packed away for the winter.

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  14. Hello Paula girl !
    You are so lucky with such wonderful weather, your garden looks spectacular as if it were still summer : )
    It is getting quite cold here and I have so much work to do it is overwhelming but I am determined .. with all the work that went on the garden was neglected .. so now it is time to love it up and tuck it in for winter !
    Enjoy that fabulous weather girl ... I am very jealous ! haha
    Happy Halloween ;-)

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    1. You're always hard at work Joy, and your garden is superb. I'm sure a little TLC before winter arrives will do it the power of good.

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  15. A lovely post and wonderful pictures. Make the most of sitting out in the garden with a mug of tea and enjoy everything. Happy gardening. Flighty xx

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    1. Oh, I am making the most of it Flighty, I'm pretty sure it won't last too much longer!

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  16. Your garden looks so lush and colourful Paula. I would like to know the identity of the hardy geranium which looks as if it is still going strong. Hope that you enjoyed todays fabulous weather with your feet up and a seed catalogue in your hand.

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    1. Now I can name nearly every variety of plant in my garden, but that Hardy Geranium alludes me, Anna. I remember buying it many many years ago as a bare root from Woolworths, but as for it's name. Well, it's lost in the midst of time I'm afraid. I have tried to research what it might be before and I think it might be 'Patricia'. It's a fine Geranium though with very large leaves and it flowers at least three times in the year.

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  17. I haven't been by in awhile, as I am pretty behind in visiting blogs. I'm glad I made it to see how awesome your garden looks. I especially love the view from up high. It's so full and lush yet!

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    1. Thank you Sue. I know just what you mean about being behind with blog visiting, I've been just the same lately, there never seem to be enough hours in the day!

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  18. Your cyclamen, fuchsia and geraniums look wonderful. I will envious of you this weekend as we are expected to get cold rain, but it has been a lovely fall so far.

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    1. I hope it's not too miserable weather wise for you, it's been such a nice change to have this mild weather here although it's not set to continue for much longer sadly.

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  19. It's interesting to see how fall and some summer colors intermingled in your garden!

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  20. This weather has been amazing and I can't bear to waste a second of it! Your garden is still looking remarkably green and lush and almost summery. The cyclamen look fantastic.

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  21. Hi Paula,

    Your garden as always looks lovely.

    I like your cyclamen beneath the small tree.......a mini woodland scene.
    We have been lucky with the summer and autumn this year.....a warm autumn has extended the season. I still have double begonias geraniums and non hardy fuchsia flowering..............unreal for November in this garden.

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  22. Lovely to see your garden again Paula, it is looking great and all your hard work is obvious to see. Like you, I have also wondered when to chuck out the summer bedding and plant the winter stuff, last year I did it in the middle of December, with very limited stock around to order, so this year I have been a bit earlier, the winter bedding arrived last Saturday. Out with the old and in with the new, even if they are all still in flower! I am looking forward to seeing what new things you have planned for your garden, always something new to add, isn’t there :-)

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  23. Hi Paula, I love the picture of all your plants cosseted and tucked away in the plastic greenhouse. I've one similar where seed trays and many other pots of plants will be over-wintering although I needn't have moved them into protection so early given the very mild - warm - start to the autumn/winter season we've had.

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  24. A gardener's wish list never ends, does it? Nor does our work!

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  25. Beautiful!! I always have a Garden To Do list, too. I really like your ornaments. They fit perfectly with your plantings. We've had a wonderful fall here, too, but have a nasty Arctic blast headed our way. Brrr!

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  26. I envy you your cyclamens! They look so pretty when much of the garden is fading into winter. We have had a wonderful fall, but the days are getting cold here. There was a dusting of snow this morning. Winter is coming so it is nice to be able to sit with a warm cup of tea and enjoy these last fall days.

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  27. What an inviting garden with the path winding through. It all looks so loved - and lovely. I see you've got Geranium incana. I've just planted some in my front garden. Yours looks happy and at home. Mine hasn't been tested yet but I hope it survives our hot summer. I love its habit, the way it creeps through its neighbours.

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