Six things about the Garden at the start of November

A fortnight has passed since I last posted about the garden, and clocks have changed, days are shorter, but the garden is still colourful.  Colour pops and details give a little bust of joy, and digging and destruction by unwelcome visitors are a constant downer at the moment come second in my mind. For more Sixes on Saturdays from a number of gardens following this link to Jim's post.

1. I acquired Chrysanthemum Picasso under the HPS Conservation Scheme, and have three good plants flowering in the garden this year.  I hope the person who bought the other plant at the HPS plant sale is pleased with hers.   

Chrysanthemum Picasso

What has surprised me is that the tiny cuttings which I took as the first shoots were emerging  have produced almost as good plants as the clump left in the garden.  I took them this early because one year the plant emerged with a number of shoots and then the whole lot just died off for little apparent reason. This has encouraged me to take many more cuttings next year to put back into the Conservation Scheme system and give replacements to friends at the HPS if they lost theirs. 

2. Cyclamen hederifolium are worth growing for their lovely leaves that last all winter. This is just a small selection of the forms and colour variations in the garden.

3. When we got back home from a few days away I looked at the nearby bed by the conservatory, and thought that neighbouring cats had taken advantage of our being away to start to use the garden as their 'convenience facility'.  Small plants had been moved aside but the soil replaced fairly tidily.  I ought to have taken my camera with me, to capture the  picture as I started to move the soil.  Rather that you know what, I found a pigeon minus its head and breast buried deep vertically with the tips of the wing feathers just below the surface of the soil. I removed and disposed of the dead bird and replaced the soil, moved a few of my bits of wood and stones and replaced the plants with some small Omphalodes linifolia seedlings.  The next morning I found the area dug out with no filling back of the hole.

I just hope the loss was acknowledged and that there will be no return, and  Mr S's beard trimmings were scattered in the area.  Human hair is said to help keep foxes away.

4. Just in case my seedlings of Omphalodes linifolia suffer further brutalities, I have selected a few and planted them up in compost and will keep them off the ground.  

Omphalodes linifolia

It has definitely been a mast year with the oak trees bearing an over abundance of acorns.  Further to that it appears that the local squirrels have had very successful litters.  At any one time standing by the back window you can see around five squirrels burying things in the garden, and with more up in the trees nibbling off stems with acorns which fall to the ground.  Nearly every spot has been disturbed, including plant pots by the blighters burying or practising deceptive cashing.  I have also noticed that they are nibbling the tips of the acorns before burying them, something that is quite new this year here.  At least I should have fewer seedlings next year.  However with all this digging and then no doubt more digging as they search for their hidden cashes, I am worrying about my snowdrops and other early bulbs.

5. So why for the second year running are the Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' bearing flower buds in late October early November?

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' with flower buds in early November

6. I allow self seeded Corydalis ochroleuca  if they are in a convenient spot, otherwise they are easy to remove at any stage of growth and make a pleasant soil covering before the bulbs emerge.  Here it is filling a spot with its ferny green leaves and what is good about this fresh green growth is that it isn't one that slugs or snails have added to their menu!

Corydalis ochroleuca

There was I despairing about the damage done in the garden by wildlife, and wondering whether I should dig myself a hole, and forget the whole thing about gardening and blogging. However making myself go out and really think about six things has helped lift my spirits and my resolve to look past the angst!  Thank you for bearing with me.