October in the centre of England has been a strange month. The temperature has continued to be above average and the plants have continued to flower. It is definitely autumn with the leaves turning and dropping, all the more so with several windy periods as a couple of Atlantic storms have arrived. We are towards the east of the country so even these storms have normally moderated by the time they get to us.
My regular view across the garden. There are still many flowers out although not as many as last month. We have not had any frost so far so the dahlias are continuing to flower. One of the negative aspect of the warm and damp weather through September and October has been the growth of moss in the lawns. This time of year is a good time for scarification to remove any thatch and moss in the lawn. It always amazes me how much can come up with such a small machine and this is after the lawns have been cut with the normal mower.Its a labour intensive job. After the scarification the thatch needs to be raked into piles.Bagged up ready to be moved around to the composting area. Then the lawn need mowing again to pick any lose material not raked up. Thank goodness it is only once a year.Elsewhere a sure sign that winter is on the way is when we start to wrap the benches in the garden.However, the roses continue to flower. This is mostly Rosa ‘Lichfield Angel’and Rosa ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ which also needs its winter prune to get it back into shape.Pruning climbing roses is a significant job at this time of year. This will more or less need to be taken off the wall and rearranged but………..……….see how it will look in May. Rosa ‘Shot Silk’ is the rose.
One of the stars this autumn has been Salvia ‘Phyllis Fancy’ which continues to look fantastic.View across the lawn with Salvia ‘Phyllis Fancy’ either side of the pond.
It is getting into bulb planting time. We do not lift our tulips as most come back each year but over time they do need replenishing. My order for 2017 arrived and contains the following:
Quantity | Name |
250 | Crocus Joan of Arc |
100 | Crocus speciosus Albus |
50 | Cyclamineus Narcissi Jenny |
100 | Narcissi Tete-a-Tete |
20 | Lilium Bright Diamond |
20 | Lilium Foxtrot |
10 | Lilium Purple Lady |
10 | Lilium Curly Sue |
10 | Lilium Venezuela |
20 | Schubertii |
100 | Anemone Altrocoerulea |
15 | Cyclamen Coum Album |
10 | Cyclamen Hederifolium Album |
25 | Eremurus Bungei |
100 | Iris Histrioides Katherine Hodgkin |
25 | Leucojum Aestivum |
25 | Leucojum Vernum |
10 | Lilium candidum |
100 | Tulip Exotic Emperor |
100 | Tulip Purissima White Emperor |
100 | Tulip Red Impression |
100 | Tulip Big Smiles |
100 | Tulip Elegant Lady |
100 | Tulip Purple Blend |
100 | Tulip Species Turkestanica |
We have made a start but the tulips are best not planted before November to avoid “Tulip Fire” so we are going to be busy in November with 700 bulbs to plant! Tulip fire is caused by the fungus Botrytis tulipae. It is closely related to the grey mould pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Leaf symptoms are visible from when leaves emerge in late winter until they die back in summer.
In some areas we have started to cut back the herbaceous plants in preparation for tulips and mulching. However, with so much still flowering it seems a shame to cut out too much.
The dahlias will continue to flower until the first hard frost. Here is Dahlia “Twyning’s After Eight” plus a Red Admiral butterfly!This is Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ which will be cut back soon but is looking great right now.This combination of Osteospermum ‘Tresco Purple’ and Salvia ‘Cerro Potosi’ has been looking great since June this year.What is this flowering so much at the end of November? Helianthemum ‘Ben Fhada’ a flower I normally associate with the summer but I am not complaining.
If you would like to join in with the End of Month View please do. It would be great if you could add a link to your post in the comments below and link to this post in your post.
2017 Gardening Hours | ||
Week beginning October 21st |
Total 2017 to-date | Average per week |
28 | 883 | 21 |
Breaking News:
Having almost completed this blog and commented on the frost free weather; this morning we had the first frost of the winter! Not enough to hurt the dahlias but they will be hit soon.
The weather this season is certainly peculiar. Like you, we have been above average then all of a sudden snow flurries. The grounds look gorgeous and you always inspire me to get out and tend the gardens. I especially love the dahlias and salvia.
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thanks Lisa. we have been very pleased with the salvias
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Those trash bags look like an alien invasion!
Our autumn is weirdly warm during the days as well, and ruining most of the foliar color.
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hi Tony, yea the bags do! but I store the thatch in them and added it to the compost heap over time when I am adding woody stuff.
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We do the same with maple leaves. I don’t like to use plastic, but I don’t do that work so I can’t complain.
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What a fabulous list of bulbs to plant! Looking forward to seeing the little iris and your lilies in particular. We have frost this morning too – first heavy one of the season, although yesterday there was a light one as well. Can finally tidy up – the garden’s been a mess this year. Are you hosting End of Month View instead of Helen now? I’m going to join in this month and will be back to you.
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Hi Cathy, yes I have taken over from Helen. Please join us in the EoMV
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Most of your garden images certainly looked much more like summer than autumn but winter will arrive sooner or later so it is always good to enjoy the blooms while you can. Your last shot of frost on the lawn was quite startling!
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Hi Christina. It has meant we have not really started putting the garden to bed for winter but I expect that will all change soon.
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Goodness, scarification is a big job. You must be happy to check that one off the list! Our weather has turned cold too; we had our first frost on Sunday night.
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Hi Marian, Yes I am happy the scarification is done for this year.
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Pingback: End of month view – October 2017 | Duver Diary
Hi Steve, yes, it has been mild and we certainly haven’t had any frost yet. I have a similarly long bulb list but mine hasn’t even arrived yet, so sadly no hope of planting this last lovely weekend!
Here’s my view, thanks for hosting.
https://duverdiary.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/end-of-month-view-october-2017/
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Its hard work planting the bulbs but always worth it
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You still have a lot to enjoy. I love S. Phyllis Fancy, what a beauty. The pink salvia looks great with the osteospermum. A great bulb list.
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Thanks Chloris Good to hear from you
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Pingback: End of Month View: Times They are a-Changin’ | Rambling in the Garden
My goodness, Steve – you have had your work cut out with all that scarifying and then 700 bulbs to plant! I am happy to say that my bulb order was a little shorter than in previous years 😉 I loved seeing the pictures of your garden – your roses are still looking good and that salvia is fantastic. Must look out for that one! Thanks for ahring and hosting – most welcome. My EOMV is here: https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/end-of-month-view-times-they-are-a-changin/
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Hi Cathy, thanks for joining in the EoMV
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I envy your bulb list. If I could find an effective way of defeating the mice I’d have one too. I so miss Spring bulbs! Glad you escaped the worst of the storms, it was hairy here for a bit. The trees which were just turning lost all their leaves so autumn colour is a bit muted this year.
I’m hoping to get back to more regular blogging next month.. what better way to kick off. Here’s my link:
https://www.rustyduck.net/2017/10/31/where-did-autumn-go/
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We lost most of the leaves so I can imagine what it was like for you!
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Your garden still looks gorgeous, but I don’t envy you all that work on the lawn. I’m gradually replacing my lawn with flower beds and gravel – although I do like it covered in daisies in the spring and it is nice to walk barefoot on! Gravel is not so pleasing to the feet. You have an awful lot of bulb planting to do too. I love lilies but so do the slugs and snails so I’m not buying more. I might bring them indoors when they start to emerge and see if that helps them to survive. The trouble with this warm weather is that the gastropods are still on the march. I have a write up for the end of the month too, but to be honest nothing much has changed since the end of September.
https://cornwallincolours.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/in-my-garden-october/
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The way the garden is laid out the lawn is an integral part of the design. So I guess we will continue with the work it causes and yes it is great when the grandchildren run around bare footed.
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I can see that your lawn (and garden) is substantially bigger than mine 🙂 Your lawn showcases the borders.
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The garden still looks beautiful, I love the romantic air it gets by this time of the year. My view is here: https://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2017/10/end-of-month-view-october-2017.html
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Thanks Anca, I agree especially first thing when there is a slight mist in the air.
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Pingback: End of the Month View – as October closes. | Bramble Garden
Wow, what a lot of work you put in. I dare not show you my lawn! Looking forward to seeing all those bulbs, it always looks fabulous. Here’s my garden, although I hesitate to show you to be honest. Most of it is a terrible mess. I’m hoping to get on top of it over the winter. All the best. Karen https://bramblegarden.com/
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Hi Karen, Good to hear from you. You must come around in November. As you know our garden is designed to look after itself even though we keep making it more complex!
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Pingback: End of month view – October 2017 – garden ruminations
I’m a bit late but hopefully you’ll let me join in. My garden is much smaller than yours and used to be mostly grass. Now there is none and I have never regretted getting rid of it for a moment. I do see what you mean about it being an integral part of your garden’s design though. I fancy Phyllis Fancy too, very nice.
https://gardenruminations.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/end-of-month-view-october-2017/
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Thanks Jim, You are always welcome to EoMV.
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Pingback: In My Garden: October – Under a Cornish Sky
Hi – I’m very late with mine in the end, Steve – but here it is: https://gardendreamingatchatillon.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/october-end-of-month-view/
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No problem Cathy, the more the merrier.
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The sudden frost I think surprised us all – huge contrasts in weather this month.
My EoMR is here http://www.blackberrygarden.co.uk/2017/11/end-of-month-review-october-2017.html?m=0
Thanks
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Hi Alison. You live close enough to have shared the same frost!
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What a beautiful garden you have Steve, I love the geraniums and Salvias, anyway I thought I would join in this month if that’s ok and here’s my end of month review https://thomasdstone.blog/2017/11/01/october-the-neither-month/
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Hi Thomas. You are welcome to join the EoMV and thanks for your comments
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Pingback: End of Month View of the Garden. End of October 2017 | The Cynical Gardener
https://thecynicalgardener.com/2017/11/05/end-of-month-view-of-the-garden-end-of-october-2017/
Hi Steve, here is my contribution for October.
Again, thanks for hosting.
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Hi June, I have just realised we are close neighbours. We are in Hoby, near Melton Mowbray, and I assume you must be near Leicester. Anyway thanks for contributing to EoMV.
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