Six on Saturday - 4 November 2023

We seem to have had several bouts of high winds and far too much rain.  Storm Ciarán may have come over what I know is that water is running off fields, over roads and finding the fastest downslope passage. Thankfully all the rain that fell has been absorbed in the garden.  I am already using any slight lull to go out and cut things back. We shall no doubt have a weather roundup as we join Jim who leads this weekly get together, and also hear from our friends abroad.

1. Wednesday saw some lovely sunshine, and I just had to get out into the garden.  The storm was expected to arrive later in the day, so I decided to do some gentle pruning of the roses to help prevent too much wind rock.  Although most of the new 'hardy chrysanthemum' shown previously have finished flowering, have been trimmed, and lifted for the winter,  Chrysanthemum Hillside Apricot is only just coming to its crescendo. Half of it remains here. But it is such a good one and went through last winter, than I am leaving this one in the ground.

Chrysanthemum Hillside Apricot

On Thursday 'in the eye of the storm', I picked flowers from this Chrysanthemum that is already 'half cut back' to enable the work on the seating circle.  I had four bunches, one to a neighbour and three others to friends at book club luncheon. 

2.  There were lots of different flying insects on the blooms, and I wonder whether this is the last sip of nectar for this Red Admiral. This one was photographed on 1st November 2023. I still have many insects buzzing, which means that shrubs such as the large Salvia Amistad haven't yet been trimmed back.  The big bumble bees go for these Chrysanthemums and the small ones go on to the Salvias.

3. Yes, the seating circle is now complete. I've been moving soil back around and wonder whether the snowdrops will have survived, hopefully they were safe several inches below the surface.  The furniture is now put back and there are no hazards with chair legs sinking into the gravel.

4. The green bin eventually got emptied six days late, but being a fortnightly collection, I was pleased to have the bin for a good week, before it was due to go back out this Wednesday, and already it is half full  Down the narrow side alley, where I stand the bin, out of sight of any of our house windows, grows some ivy, various pots and some bricks are also stacked there.  Look what was hiding in the holes!  Once despatched, the bricks were returned and they will be inspected regularly from now on. Why do I keep these assortments of bricks?  

5. Its a long story, maybe for another day, but I happen to end up with two Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken'.  This one not ordered is growing in the garden, and is turning a beautiful shade of yellow.  I decided to use a silver marker which I already had on this slate label, and will keep an eye to see how long it lasts.

6. There is no need for an outside thermometer to tell me whether or not there has been an overnight frost. I just look over to the far side of the gravel garden where a nasturtium came up from seed left from the previous years' plants.

You may also like to visit my post 'Tree Appreciation Tuesday' post, and by all means do join in whether regularly or merely from time to time.