Grow Your Own Magazine

BACK GARDEN:
One plum tree (five separate ones actually) - produced no plums this year.
1 shed, behind that bramble but dh is getting it down.
1 climbing rose Iceberg on an arch (its its first year, only 2 foot high)
1 fern under the arch.
Underground still: snowdrops and daffodils and crocus.

Showing: autumn crocus and cyclamen. Foxgloves grown from seed, 1st year so they're green with no flowers.
Growing up the shed, 1 climbing rose (white...

Marthaclematis

I would never have believed there would be so much to do this time of year in such a small space. I've been outside all day today and I ache all over. Let me think.... well, I raked the lawn at the back, it hasn't been touched since before we went on holiday on 9th September. Just raked mind, not mowed; though its in desperate need we haven't got any garden sacks and the compost is full so nowhere to put the grass. So, after raking I repotted the cyclamen and then the cotoneaster (finally!)....

Marthaclematis

... just a little. We pulled out all the nasturtiums yesterday and dh chopped back a lot of the oregano. I deadheaded all the gladioli (except one still with some blooms) and dh pulled all the poppies - if they self seed next year then that's ok but we're not too bothered. I also cut back the lavender, moved some pots to their winter position and watered everything - the pots really did suffer whilst we were away. The books say to lift the glads and store them over winter but I'm going to take...

Marthaclematis

.. we've been to the US for 18 days and we must have had some sun and not much rain here because the pots were all dry, the grass has grown a lot, the honeysuckle has gawn' sprawling over next doors fence and the nasturtiums have gotten really large (we should have pulled them before we left). There are blackfly all over the gladioli and my poor potted fern looks like it is dead (I've put it into a container full of water). My Lilac too was in dire need of a long drink. Indoors there is a mountain...

Marthaclematis

Later we're off to Battle to stay with Di overnight but this morning has been productive. We've finished planting the bamboo and then put 20 crocus bulbs at the back near the tree. There's autumn crocus there now, that came from nowhere - I certainly didn't plant it. Soon the cyclamen will come and then next year the daffs and (today's) crocus. Its a busy area, well I hope it will be, if the squirrels don't get them all.

Marthaclematis