It has been a mixed week weatherwise, but although windy at times it has not been too bad and certainly not bad enough to prevent gardening; nevertheless, I seem to have flitted about and not done a lot outside, probably subconsciously putting off fitting the new liner to the stream reservoir. It won't install itself though, so shouldn't really be put off much longer...
However, I am not the only one to have been flitting about, as the butterfly above kept on returning to this aster, Symphyotrichum 'Little Carlow'; no matter how many times I tried, I could not get a picture with its wings fully outstretched as it kept flitting off again, but I think it's a small tortoiseshell.
I did manage to make a start on pulling Herb Robert out of the woodland, not a difficult task as the roots are easily pulled out of the soft leaf litter if the plant is firmly held at the centre. Rain stopped this task, sadly, once it was heavy enough to penetrate the light cover of the woodland canopy, but I am about a third of the way down the main path so feel I have achieved at least something this week.
Last Saturday I shared the pleasing result of a relocated Carex 'Everillo' in one of the lead-effect planters and, true to my word, I have begun replacing the annuals in the others in the adjacent area. The two below replaced annual verbena which was pretty when it flowered but needed regular deadheading, a process complicated by the difficulty in distinguishing between spent blooms and new buds. Two more carex are waiting for the demise of gloriously fragrant Nemesia 'Wisley Vanilla' before they can be planted up.
With a constant supply of tomatoes since June, I have been able to make two more batches of my very favourite tomato chutney this week, ensuring a sufficient quantity for the coming twelve months. To give the remaining tomatoes the best chance of ripening, all remaining leaves have been removed and some spent plants composted, giving the greenhouse a very open and airy appearance once again. It has been a very good year for tomatoes here, for a relatively small effort.
Next to the greenhouse, the cutting beds are winding down and some annuals have been removed. The dahlias are still throwing up blooms, but smaller ones and with reduced frequency - other than David Howard, and there is no stopping him. I do generally deadhead dahlias every day but his height does not make this easy and the photo below shows I have been a little negligent in recent days:
Most of you will be aware how much I enjoy growing from seed, and the thrill it gives me, I wasn't quite prepared, however, to have bright green spears of Lagurus ovatus seedlings within 5 days of removing seeds from those fluffy bunnytails - Nature's magic at its best!
Other contributors to the Six on Saturday meme hosted by Jim of Garden Ruminations will no doubt be sharing magic of their own, so please pop over to Jim's blog and check them out.
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