Roe Deer

The proliferation of wildlife in the Pennine garden belies its suburban location. All our gardens offer space for insects, birds and mammals. This week the roe deer have been easier than usual to spot, given that the foliage on all the deciduous trees and plants has now fallen. They are of course still shy creatures so do not really come up close to the house.

Roe deer are browsers that actively select different food types including herbs, brambles, ivy, heather, bilberry & coniferous/deciduous tree shoots. The top of our garden is therefore especially attractive to them. However, this browsing habit can be somewhat of a nuisance when it jeopardizes our new plants and puts the deer into conflict with some farmers. Given that the moorland around here is mostly hill sheep farming this is not too much of a problem. Consequently, the deer are allowed to flourish.

The picture was taken earlier this week in between the rain showers.

Winter

Meterologically speaking winter has now arrived. The met office has December, January and February as official winter months. As if on cue the weather has become colder and we have had snow.   The ponds have frozen over and the garden is shutting down. The cold weather also means some exceptional sunsets. The view is breathtaking. 

Two black and white cats are somewhat wary of the "cold, wet, white stuff" but they gamely give it a go, at least when one of their humans is outdoors as well. 

Borrowing the Landsape

Autumn is good time of year to borrow the surrounding landscapes. The leaves have fallen from the tress and the views out of the garden in to neighboring spaces and well beyond are that much easier to appreciate.

The garden at the top is bordered by a small patch of woodland between us and the cemetery. It is a wildlife haven and the deer are always that much more in evidence at this time of the year. The fallen leaves, skeletal strucures and enticing disarray are an enthralling part of the seasonal calendar.

Across the valley the landscape is also becoming cloaked in the autumnal mists. It is hard to realize that this side of the valley was once spoil heaps and quarry waste. It is now well and truly reclaimed by the Pennines.

Seasonal Colour

Although it is now deep into autumn there is still plenty of colour to be found in the garden. The palette may be that much more restricted to reds, yellows browns but the odd glimpse of blue or white becomes all the more special.



There is still the odd flash of feline black and white too!

Relaxing at Dusk

The end of the gardening chores, at this time of year, comes much to early in the afternoon. It is now dark around 4 o'clock. The shorter quotient of sunlight hours means much less time outside. On wet and dismal days this might be a blessing but on nice autumnal days with clear skies and a tingling bitter cold freshness it is  rather sad. 

By compensation dusk can be a fabulous time for a cup of coffee on the upper bench. Watching the sun come down, wrapped up in several layers of gardening gear with a warm cuppa to cradle is really something quite special. Of course, it does get better. More often than not there are a certain couple of felines who like to join me for the last vestiges of the daylight.

Hecate is sitting on my knee and Mili is out of shot to my right.

I suspect the popularity of this time of the day might be a little more to do with pending supper time for the cats, as on an evening and overnight they are kept safely indoors. This has always been their routine and is not just a precaution because of fireworks and other nocturnal distractions.

Beautiful Autumn Light

This is the time of year after the clocks have gone back that the sunlight in the garden seems to take on a magical property. The grasses in particular are resplendent in the low sun of autumn. I am particularly fond of the pony tail grass (the white feathers top right of the photo), which has been planted in a lovely drift that takes on an ethereal quality in these atmospheric conditions.

Of course it is also the time when the grasses demand special attention, combing out the dead stems to tidy up and, if it has not been done already collecting the seeds to use next year. It is a misconception that the grasses will all self propagate and spread by themselves. I have found that most species require a helping hand.


Talking of which Mili seems to think that this uppermost part of our patch is where her guidance is most likely to be required. As usual she inhabits planet Mili!

 

Autumn Lawn Care

This week has been one of my least favourite garden jobs, forking the lawn (at my age the knees seem to ache afterwards). This must also be accompanied by scarifying and removing the dead thatch and moss, to let the air get to the soil. Keeping a nice lawn in our climate is a perpetual challenge. It is certainly one I have yet to master but like most hobby gardeners I will keep persevering. Given that the only other option is to do away with lawn altogether I will have to keep at it. Personally, I think most gardens are lacking something without a bit of grass to sit on, I would go so far as to say it is a complete anathema if you have the space not to have a piece of lawn. It is also rather British to have a lawn to mow! It also makes the perfect relaxing space, just ask Mili.

I am aware that there is conflicting advice about whether or not to fill in the holes after forking. Brushing sand in may just prevent air getting down to the roots or does it help long term to improve the drainage? Personally, I leave the lawn sand but do apply a helping of proprietary autumn feed a few days after it has been mown. However, I remain to be convinced that this is entirely the best regime for our plot.

Shorter Days and Colder Nights

The cottage beds have now had the last of the potatoes harvested but there is still a little colour left in the flowers.The two cats are enjoying the limelight. Steps are now even closer to completion while posts and bricklaying are now complete. Treads and handrail still tbc. Autumn is very much about tidying up. Most of the lawns have been scarified and forked as deeply as I can. I find the advice about lawns quite contradictory, to brush sand into the holes or not? I think most gardens benefit from a little lawn but my goodness they are certainly the most time consuming part of the garden. My advice is grass is lovely but beware of becoming a slave to the lawn!

Days are noticeably shorter and temperatures are falling. I am awaiting the first frosts so the half hardy plants will be brought under cover. Agapanthus, dahlias and some of the lilies are now in the cold frame. This protection of the more tender plants is something the gardener should not take for granted. Learning what will survive in your garden is often a matter of trial and error, I have found to my cost that even plant labels can be misleading. 

Successes and Failures

It seems to me that 2017 has seen more than  usual garden disappointments. So to cheer myself up I thought I would list the surprise successes to try to balance matters out. I am realistic enough to appreciate that gardeners will inevitably have their set backs and out right failures. Perhaps I  have a higher proportion than most, partly because of the hostile conditions but also because of stubbornness. I admit to not taking defeat lightly; why I imagine I can grow certain plants I do not know.......

Failures
~ the blackberries, victim I suspect of a virus from the neighbouring wilderness just beyond the top of the garden
~ the dahlia, not a single bloom despite being over wintered very carefully in the conservatory
~ the millet jester, for the second year I have attempted to grow from seed. They germinate and start to grow but promptly die when taken outside!!!

Right the black bamboo is beginning to from a screen
Below the water lilies are still blooming in October!  


Pleasing Successes
~ the water lillies, which produced more flowers than I can recall for a long time
~ the black bamboo, growing splendidly despite its rather miserable appearance back in March
~ the agapanthus, all of which seemed to flower this year (again they were over wintered inside but this time were not repotted)

In short the gardener must be philosophical.

The Equinox

The equinox is now past and the days are getting shorter. However, even in the Pennine garden there is still a bit of colour. Some of the heathers are in bloom, the marbled white fuchsia keeps going and the patio still has some pots with a bit of life left in them. But there is no getting away from the fact that the garden is now past its best and the sweet peas have now well and truly gone over.

I confess to enjoying this time of the year, even all the spiders. As predators they are crucial in maintaining the biodiversity of our gardens, woodlands, field margins, hedges; so they are welcome in our patch (providing Hecate does not feel peckish!). At this time of the year the males are most active seeking out the females. Incidentally, I have noticed that there is still a large number of butterflies around the garden. Is this usual?

So the trees still have their leaves and their is plenty to keep me and the cats out of mischief. An update on the still, as yet unfinished steps will follow.

Garden Steps

The current project is the garden steps, a new handrail will be put up and the entire flight dismantled and rebuilt. But what a surprise the dreadful weather gets in the way again. I must confess to enjoying the hard landscaping but it is frustrating when you are a hostage to the weather. I do not feel confident enough to mix mortar and use concrete when the weather is not just right. Hecate is keeping an eye on proceedings; being somewhat less agile than Mili I am sure she will appreciate it when the steps are usable again.

Late Summer

The tail end of the summer brings a final flourish to all our gardens. With luck there will still be time to enjoy some sunshine and relax with the critters. Mili is an expert at both.

From the top of the garden we can see the farmer getting in the hay. Another sign that summer is all but over.

Meteoroligcally speaking it is now autumn but the pictures were taken in the last few days of August and finally, the grey skies have given over to a little sunshine. The red admiral is enjoying the break in the weather. It is quite hard to imagine a creature so fragile has arrived from across the channel.

Plant of the Month for August

More grey skies but this does not deter us from our outdoor activities. However, it does not allow the garden to be shown off at its best. Even the heather beds are a bit more drab than usual.


Hecate and Mili are obsessing about all and any little, insect, amphibian, bird or mammal. Naturally the pond is a prime observation point.

On the other hand I am enjoying the grasses in their summer glory and my plant of the month is the Bunny Tail grass (right) just ahead of the pony tail grass (left).

It is the tactile nature of these grasses that I find so appealing. My planting allows for them to be easily touched as you ascend the path towards the blackberries and the composting area.

Scents and Smells

I must be a rare exception amongst gardeners in that there are very few garden scents that I find to be particularly interesting. While the animal kingdom and most people who enjoy their gardens find scents really important, I honestly do not. I am probably missing a great deal but it does somewhat simplify my choice of planting scheme.

However, there are some exceptions. The aromas in the conservatory/ green house are often quite intoxicating. The tomatoes are always pleasant and the herbs, especially the basil, something very special. It probably says something about my epicurean delight in eating. I grow the sweet basil, which has a stronger smell than the Thai. Apparently, the Greek name for basil means “king”, which shows how highly it has been regarded throughout the ages. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a sun-loving annual with highly aromatic leaves that has been described as being a pleasant spicy odor and taste somewhat like anise or cloves.




The tomatoes paired with torn basil leaves are the key ingredients to our bruschetta, providing you have a little olive oil, feta and tasty bread as well. Mmmmm!

Grey Pennine Skies

Summer in the Pennines can be a bit hit and miss to say the least. Whilst grey leaden skies can have a certain attraction the heavy rain, or light showers or even light mizzle that they bring, can be challenging.  Neither the garden nor the two cats particularly enjoy the damp and lack of sunshine hours. I am sure the number of proper summer days is diminishing, year after year.

 However, after a downpour if the sun immediately comes out then a whole additional sparkle can be seen in the vegetation. Quite delightful!

August Delights

August starts presenting new delights in the garden. The crocosmia must be the perfect plant for the Pennine garden, in so far as it is unbelievably straight forward to grow. It is also quite easy to lift and divide and can provide a splash of vibrant colour wherever it might be needed. In the picture you can see the complimentary planting of the crimson crocosmia alongside the purple buddleja. This too is a plant that seems to be able to find a happy home virtually anywhere and is also impossibly easy to grow.

The buddleja as seen from higher up now forms a backdrop for the cottage garden bed. This itself is now looking healthily flush with plenty of new flowers and vegetables.

Finally, the ornamental grasses are also looking at their best. I like the splashes of colour that are dotted throughout but in equal part I just revel in the tactile nature of many of the grasses with their delicate soft seed heads. Clearly, a black and white furball feels just the same way.

Harvest

 Some gardeners are gifted when it comes to growing fruit and veg. I am not. But this does not mean that I find it any less exciting, in fact, exactly the opposite. There is a genuine thrill to see something grown from seed or tuber develop into a piece of food that is actually edible. I suppose it is that tiny miracle of watching and tending while producing something that is fit for the table that I find fascinating and frustrating in equal measure.

The first of the crops harvested this year are some small salad potatoes (jazzy). The yield was somewhat disappointing but the taste was not. The first onions have been lifted but they are undoubtedly misshapen. The condition is called bull neck and I will need to modify my feeding regime for next year. The tomatoes in the conservatory are also beginning to ripen. This year they are "money maker" and the few that have now been eaten are pleasant but not exactly delicious.

However, none of these will dampen my optimism as there are still the peppers and chilli peppers yet to try in the coming months.

Sadly my biggest disappointment by a country mile is the lack of any sign of flowering on the blackberry bush. Having planted it last year and now having waited for 2 years I was really hoping to see some sign of something to harvest. The crumble might have to be from "Tesco" fruit yet again!

Water Lilies

Both lower and upper ponds now have what in my opinion is the most attractive of aquatics, the water lily. They are not difficult to grow but can be tricky to get to flower. I am not entirely sure why some years are better than others and I will resolve to study the best ways of looking after the lilies a lot more in future.


The fact that we get any flowers on the lower pond is quite contrary to much accepted wisdom. The pond is hardly in full sun, the water is not totally calm and the plants have not been fertilized in years. I also suspect that the depth of water is a little shallow for the type that we have. But the buds keep appearing and the majority open into lovely blooms.

It is hardly surprising that the water lily is often regarded as a symbol of optimism, as it is renowned for returning to the waterways even after difficult periods of drought. It is certainly a characteristic that it needs in the Pennine garden.