Garden Diary – A week of Remembrance & feeling grateful

In this week of remembrance of those brave soles that gave their lives for their country, and so that we could all live in freedom. Freedom to enjoy our gardens and any other hobbies we choose. I hope that Remembrance Sunday does make people stop for a moment and feel grateful.

The garden is somewhere full of memories for me, whether it’s the now distant memories of my dad gardening. Getting as much pleasure from growing food and flowers as I now do.

At this time of year he would have a big pile of steaming manure dropped off on the front drive. He would then barrow it around, to steam away in front of his shed. As a child I really did think it was most peculiar and really quite disgusting thing to have in the garden. I’m sure he would smile to see me now buying bags of it from the garden centre.

Another good way of remembering people is through the plants they’ve given me in the garden. What I often refer to as sentimental plants.
Currently I have mums Nerines bulbs in flower, perfect for bonfire night as they resemble a big pink firework.
Also my yellow chrysanthemums were given to me by what I call ‘a proper old gardener’ something I aspire to be one day.
He used to dig his up every year and overwinter them in the greenhouse, but winters are so mild now that I don’t need to.

The Cosmos continue to be the stars of the garden having come into flower so late, I’m madly dead heading to keep them going as long as possible. And the invaluable pansies are giving an orange contrast to all the pink.

The hopeless chilli season has come to a disappointing end. I think it’s the worst harvest since I started growing them. But if everything in the garden was perfect all of the time, where would the challenge be? The failures make the successes sweeter!

Monday 21st October 2024

Thank-you 🌿💕🌸💕🌿
I now can’t believe why I stopped growing Cosmos for years. It’s all of you gardeners that have reminded me what a fabulous plant it is, so thanks 🙏🌿💕🌸💕🌸🌿
#MagentaMonday #gardeners #flowers #gardeninspiration

Tuesday 22nd October 2024

Morning all 🌿💙🌿💜🌿
It’s a double dose of blue today, blue pot💙, blue pansy💜 #tuesdayblue
Have a good day 😊🌿
#blueflowers #bluetuesday

Wednesday 23rd October 2024

Taken on Saturday. ‘Mary Rose’ really has flowered her little heart out this year 🌿🌸💕🌸🌿 #RoseWednesday
A bit of black spot now, but it is November!
So glad I dug her up & brought her with me 💕💕💕
#roses @DAustinRoses #Flowers

Thursday 24th October 2024

It’s a #ThrowbackThursday to October 2022 🌿🤍💕
A year when I could hardly take a photo of the cosmos without a bee on it 🐝 🌸🐝🌸🐝
Not seen any on it this year 😢
#SaveTheBees #bees #InsectThursday

Friday 25th October 2024

A few nibbles on the cosmos, but that’s just fine!
I want my garden to be a home to many, even the nibblers #FlowersOnFriday 🌿🌸💕🌸🌿#pinkflowers
It’s nearly the weekend, happy Friday 😃🌸🌿#pinkfriday

And that’s the last of 2024’s chillies 🌶️💜🌶️🖤🌶️
My worst harvest ever, in the same greenhouse where I’ve had one of the best tomato seasons 🍅🤷‍♀️ #thestrangestyear
#chilli #chillies #growyourown

Saturday 26th October 2024

We’ve had a very grey week (well it is November), but thankfully no rain 😃 so I’ve been able to do some general tidying up. Still plenty of pink & orange flowers going strong 🌿🌸🧡💕🧡💕🌿 #SixOnSaturday
Have a good weekend 💕🧡💕🧡💕
#flowers #pinkflowers #flowersonsaturday

Sunday 27th October 2024

After a very grey week, there are slithers of blue sky & the sun’s trying to come out 💙☀️💙
Just in time for #SundayYellow #YellowSunday #YellowFlowers
Have an enjoyable Sunday whatever you’re up to 🌿💛💛💛🌿