Today was a day fro maintenance in the Magic Garden with a de-sludging of the pond & removal of pondweed and planting out of 3 plants as space fillers under the rowan tree - a catnip, a lavender BeeZee & a new fuchsia ‘Dying Embers’. I also started to empty out the troughs that have finished their cropping. Ben kept a wary eye on me as well as having a quick look for mice.
Sunday
The weekend seems to have rocketed past. I’ve been out in the Magic Garden doing some dead heading, a bit of pruning back and enjoying the outside life. Ben has had a lovely snooze in the Thyme Zone next to the sundial and then under the bench.
Friday
I am looking forward to a weekend with time to spend in the Magic Garden. It is lovely to come home after a day at work and be able to sit in my rocking chair and admire the view. Ben was in attentive mode even if a bit bemused by the sitting still. I love the colour contrasts at this time of year as the giant artichokes and cardoons are zinging with colour against the red of the rowan berries and the more subtle asters living up to their season of Michaelmas Daisies.
Hot Tuesday
It’s warm here again and humid despite having rained a bit last night. I’ve been enjoying the value of my lavenders as the bees are enjoying them too. Ben was just enjoying being lazy.
Sunday
I have been a bit busy since I went back to work so less time for both the photography and the Magic Garden but today I’ve done some pruning, put in some new bits and bobs and obviously wore Ben out.
Friday
I’m pleased with how much fruit I have had out of the garden this year and with the salad & French beans. I’m not totally sure what to make of the statuesque cardoons but the Echinops have been proving their worth all summer with happy bees.
Monday
The Magic Garden is still full of butterflies and bees. It is much cooler here despite the sunny spells. Ben has not been enthusiastic about being outside today beyond visiting his nip patch.
Thursday
A wee bit of relaxation after work with a cuppa in the Magic Garden
Monday
Ben and I spent the early evening in the Magic Garden watching the bees and the birds together.
Sunday
I’ve had a friend staying this week and so the dry spell is over. The Magic Garden is enjoying the rain even if both Ben and I are less appreciative of getting wet. I have been enjoying the presence of my blue tit family and the dunnocks and goldfinches.
Monday
I’ve added 3 more Neptas to Ben’s collection in the Magic Garden this evening as the weather changed from rain and heavy showers. Ben watched while I put them in and then went back to contemplating his favourite white catnip which he has much reduced in size while Ithought about cutting back the more established Neptas both Purrsian I think although rather different in habit.
Nepeta neptune
Nepeta Cat’s pyjamas
Nepeta Whispurr
Sunday
It has been much cooler today with a sea thret giving way to sunshine about lunchtime. Today’s main task in the Magic Garden was picking gooseberries and trying to today up the bush. I disturbed a burnished brass moth which was appreciating the nettles that I have allowed to remain. I also cleared blanket weed out of the pond again before enjoying a few minutes watching the birds. I think my favourites are the goldfinches. Ben was enjoying being out today but there was an element of keeping an eye on me.
Friday
Another hot and dry day! Ben has spent most of the day indoors enjoying the cool. We spent a little time outside in the morning and again this evening as the temperature has gone down. In the corner behind the gooseberry the jasmine is blooming with a lovely scent. There is also what I think might be evening primrose blooming.
Thursday
The temperature stayed above 20C all day but by evening was becoming comfortable. Ben and I sat outside and enjoyed the quiet and watched the life in the Magic Garden. We were both reluctant to come back in.
Wednesday
A little bit more harvesting of gooseberries and raspberries today together with another handful of blueberries.
Monday
I spent a short time in the Magic Garden today & was distracted by the bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Ben checked his favourite nip plant and thought about chasing butterflies but limited this to head swivelling.
Sunday
We’ve had some sporadic rain showers & it’s been windy last couple of days. The Magic Garden has been pulled around by the wind but I’m still really pleased with how it is looking. I have several sea hollies and the bees adore them. They are very striking plants as is the perennial sweetpea by the rowan tree. The annual ones are blooming consistently now and I have being picking them so I can have their lovely scent in the house. Ben I think would prefer me to pick catnip but he instead investigates the different ones around the patch.
Thursday
The weather is back to normal with a cool wind. Ben has chosen to spend the day mainly indoors beyond a quick wander round. I was pleased to see the ladybirds are on duty consuming the aphids even if their inroads are a bit limited.
Too hot!
It was too warm to be in my sunny Magic Garden for long today. Ben had a short time sunbathing in the Thyme zone while I pegged out the washing and checked there was water for the birds still. I picked some more gooseberries & a handful of raspberries. My favourite sea hollies are in full bloom at the moment and are being enjoyed by the bees.
Sunday
The temperature has gone up again but fortunately not as much as further south. I spent this afternoon pottering in the Magic Garden. I have thinned out the apples and watered the trees. I’ve planted out a cheap fuchsia into a trough and took cuttings from it. Meantime Ben checked out his various catnips before retreating indoors.
