Sunday 16 October 2022

Autumn in the Garden

In spite of the month being October there are still areas of wonderful displays. The hedge is full of berries and hips; does that mean we are going to have a hard winter?  Some say so, but I am not sure; our winters have been rather mild in recent years. 


The hedges are magnificent, wildly overgrown and full of life. I love it that all kinds of creatures have taken up residence. I am providing them with water in large shallow trays; It's such a pleasure to watch  birds by day taking a bath and surprise hedgehogs coming for a drink at dusk. Soon the latter will take up cosy winter quarters in wood and leaf piles which I have deliberately left in various nooks and crannies. The more birds, frogs, toads, and hedgehogs I encourage to eat slugs the better pleased I am during the summer. And if the foxes come and eat that rat of the sky, the pigeon, I don't mind either. They leave the coloured doves alone, these are too fast for predators.



The next three pictures are showing part of the drive. It's a difficult area to cultivate because there  are several trees and the ground is shaded and dry. I think various kinds of conifers might be suitable, I am busy studying Pinterest ideas. Algorithms can be quite handy, Pinterest obviously knows what takes my clicking fancy. Maybe a visit to a plant nursery is in the offing during autumn when the time is right to plant plants shrubs and trees.


I don't know why I have so many cyclamen everywhere, perhaps the birds help
plant the seeds.

Last year I planted a weeping cedar along the drive,
it's doing quite well.


 There's a Mediterranean  pencil pine under the ash tree,
in a year or two it will add a few inches and become more of a picture.
For now the normally boring ash tree itself and its butter yellow autumn leaves
draw the eye. 

I am glad that I have recovered my gardening mojo, the opening in the summer was a great success; several hundred people came to visit during the last weekend of June. ( More of that some other time). The back garden was the showstopper then, the drive borders on the front of house, which are quite spectacular now, less so. You can't have everything. 


15 comments:

  1. I didn't realize you had a show garden. This is impressive.

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  2. What beauty! I'm thrilled to know you're back to your gardens now. I always enjoyed seeing what you were accomplishing there, and the photos prove that you certainly have recovered your mojo!

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  3. Your provision for your animal neighbors speaks volumes and touches my heart. Best wishes my friend. For a good winter

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  4. Those bright cyclamen under the shrubs and trees look so pretty. I think they multiply well when in a place they like. I'm very glad you've recovered your gardening mojo because we all get to enjoy it via your blog. How gratifying to have your hard work appreciated by all the summer visitors.

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  5. Your garden looks magical. Thank you for showing some of it to us.

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  6. Gardens in autumn have their very own beauty, and yours looks beautiful.
    Two weeks or so ago, I sent you an email about the Höhlenkinder books but have had no reply yet, so maybe my message went into spam?

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  7. The garden brings great pleasure and I'm glad you are enjoying your landscape. Your plantings are outstanding. Supporting the wildlife is also great and having lots of creatures in the garden is always appreciated. I collect conifers and can say the various shades of green and green blue add wonderfully to a landscape. Some of my favorite conifers are: Blue Spruce, Juniper, Korean Fur, Birds Nest Spruce, Western Cypress and Norway Spruce (for creating blinds). One year, I decided I wanted to block a view so I created a berm (3 truck loads of good soil) and planted Norway Spruce in triangulation. Today, I have a solid green wall of Norway Spruce.

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  8. Beautiful Friko, you are surrounded by it and I love that you take care of the creatures. A blessing on your eco system.
    XO
    WWW

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  9. Your yard shows no neglect at all. Beautiful. Come across the pond and give me some ideas.

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  10. Every time you show photos of your garden I am further amazed at all you have going on there. I can see how when you don't have the creative energy for it, it would be a burden. I feel that here sometimes, too. For some of us, our gardens seem to be really important to the health of our souls. <3

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  11. I'm glad you have rediscovered your gardening mojo too -- not only because of how much it means to you but (selfishly) how much I love seeing your blooms! All of mine are long gone, apart from some seedum and a sad looking mum -- nothing like this. It's gorgeous. As you probably saw from my last two posts, nothing much but trees to share for fall color -- but they are quite dazzling, so I'll take it! What a joyful post!

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  12. Hi Friko - so pleased you've been out and about gardening - we're having some lovely 'warmish' sunny days (at least they are down here!) - your garden is gorgeous and you're right to be proud of it. Those Autumn crocuses are just wonderful to see ... and excellent to read about all the wildlife that comes visiting and enjoy the fruits of their wanderings in the garden which leads to the water pots ... just beautiful ... long may you enjoy - with thoughts - Hilary

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  13. I think your drive borders are spectacular! It finally cooled off enough here to allow me to attend to many of the things it's been too hot to do.

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  14. Beautiful cyclamens, Frico. I never knew they could grow wild. Growing them here is a big problem. What a pleasant experience to look at the creatures in the garden. I think now you feel better and your soul is happy in gardening.

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  15. I love the fall colors and enjoy walkingin nature. Your photos draw me in.

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