Hello.

I thought I'd post a few photographs of my garden. In this strange new world we are living in, it is comforting to notice the unfolding of spring and realise that in nature and in our gardens things are continuing much as normal. Shortly after taking these photos I saw the first butterfly of the year, a yellow Brimstone - always the first one of the year round here, the natural cycles continue.

There are masses of celandines in this shady border. Although they are considered a rather invasive weed I appreciate the show of colour carpeting the ground and in a few short weeks the leaves will have died down and the area will be full of lily of the valley. I also think they might be a good way of smothering early weeds but that might be wishful thinking!

I haven't posted for months but hope to show up a bit more frequently in the coming weeks, connection online is going to become more important to us as we are inevitably isolated from family and friends and missing our social activities.

towards the end of summer

This summer has passed too quickly and September is here. I have been lucky to have had a couple of trips away and as often happens, when I arrive home even after only a few days,  I feel I  have jumped to a new season.

The late summer heather and gorse have been joined by a a few autumnal fungi, this was a striking specimen.

The garden has become untidy through lack of attention during the last few weeks but if you stand back and look from a distance it doesn't appear too bad. Crab apples, grapes and ornamental berries are ripening and with the sun lower in the sky there is a feeling of early autumn.

This little bench is a good place to catch the sun and the geraniums in pots have survived well considering they have missed out on regular watering while I was away.

I have lots of photographs of my holidays to sort out and a recently completed knitting project blocking on the living room floor, I hope to post pictures of both soon.

autumnal

These days, September and October are my favourite months. I've always preferred spring with its freshness and promise but, perhaps something to do with getting older, now the slower days of autumn appeal more.

This year we have the autumnal cobwebs, berries and early mornings but in the middle of the day, a real indian summer with temperatures in the 20ºs. It is a perfect combination.

There is a stillness about autumn, the crops have gone and the weeds and wildflowers grow before the ground is ploughed. The fields are full of birds feasting on any grains left behind. Pigeons mainly.

We walked around a local lake on Sunday, very calm and quiet.

The leaves are beginning to fall.

The skies at sunrise have been amazing, this has been my morning view this week.

Autumn has come to the garden too. This is our little front garden, the cyclamen get better each year as new self seeded plants appear.

Rosemoor

I have now been back from my holidays for two weeks so its time I sorted out my photographs. As always I took very many pictures, plenty of memories.

In mid August we spent a few days in Chagford, a small town on Dartmoor. It was a good place from which explore the area.

On my list was the RHS garden, Rosemoor. This was my second visit, the first being many years ago when the children were small, I was able to spend a bit more time looking at the plants this time.

In mid August the Hot Garden was at its peak. The colours were amazing

and the garden was filled with butterflies.

There was softer planting in the spiral garden

and then so many different shades of green beside the lake.

Beautiful reflections in the still water.

With so many visitors to the garden, the birds were used to people and seemed happy to pose for photos.

It was a good day out. I'll leave you with this handsome chap I spotted in the woods.

Englefield gardens

I have been visiting the gardens at Englefield for almost thirty years. They are open on Mondays throughout the year but I usually make my first visit of the year in March or April to see the magnolias. This year I thought I might have missed them but the cold spring has delayed them and many were still looking stunning in May.

The garden has many azaleas and rhododendrons which are also a little later this year. This purple one stood out agains the bright green ferns along the stream.

The fragrant yellow azaleas were just coming into flower.

Away from the formal terraces there are many mature trees.

This more natural part of the garden is my favourite.

There is something reassuring about visiting a place that has changed little over the past few years. High streets and shopping centres have altered beyond recognition, new roads and housing estates (so much building) but through all that these gardens have stayed much the same. There are a few additions, a small area for children, a little stone bench has been placed under the weeping tree that my boys used to hide in, but overall it feels the same.

The gunnera patch is sprouting

and the deer are in the parkland.

A peaceful oasis in a changing world.

spring in the garden

Everywhere around the village is turning yellow with daffodils. I have a few but I'm not very keen on yellow flowers so for the most part my spring garden is blue, white and pink.

Chionodoxa

and Hyacinths.

All of the hyacinths had their first year in pots in the house before being planted out in the garden. After a few years the flowerheads are smaller and sometimes the plants disappear completely but each year a few more make it into the garden to contribute to the spring display.

Lastly, a summer clematis, almost in flower. I know I should be cutting this back. Monty Don definitely mentioned cutting back hard even though this year there would be flowers already - it seems a shame and I haven't got round to it yet!