It is coooold, so not much gardening has been going on!
As you can see the garden is looking very autumnal at the moment, the big tree at the back has dropped all it's leaves in my garden, which is it's wont every year.
I appreciate the leaves and scoop them up to mulch any bare soil in the garden, to protect it over the winter. I tried to make leaf mould one year, but the bags I filled with leaves also filled up with slugs, and there's one bag which I still haven't been brave enough to open that makes an alarming buzzing noise every time I touch it! So I do this more direct method instead, from what I've read about permaculture and forest gardening it's good, and replicates natural systems, and it's a lot easier too!
I finally dug the worst of the huge fuchsia roots out from the side garden, and planted my new apple tree. Luckily most of my garden is raised up a foot and a half, so the soil is still quite warm and hasn't really suffered from ground frost yet. I planted a bay tree I've had in a pot for a few years too. This is my attempt at a really simple guild - a permaculture idea, where lots of plants work together - round my apple tree there's red clover for nitrogen fixing, curry plant for stinky herbyness to keep pests away, creeping Jenny for ground cover to protect soil and keep weeds away, and I planted bulbs too for pretty flowers.
I've been looking out for an acorn to plant, and I found one on Bonfire night, at the cricket club where I used to go to see fireworks when I was a little girl. I hope it grows. I'm still struck by all the beautiful oaks we saw when we visited the Centre for Alternative Technology in May.
I bought this pretty copper forget me not as a memorial for the pregnancy we lost last year. It seemed fitting and forget me not's are my favourite flower.
In terms of veg, I still have some carrots in the ground waiting for me to pull up, and I've actually managed to grow a tiny kale plant! They've been eaten by slugs every year before - thank goodness for raised beds they seem to be a lot better! I hope it'll last trough winter and continue growing next year.
I've popped my cut and come again cauliflower plantlets in the cold frame for now. I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do with them, but ones already died (it wasn't in a good state when it got to me in the post!) and I don't want to risk the other! Please ignore/excuse my messy greenhouse - thanks!
This little calendula is still flowering!
How's your garden this month?
Ooh, I am impressed at your Kale. My garden is not doing much. I need to go and gather the last remaining pears (the rest died on the lawn, I feel so guilty...) and do something with them. The flower for your lost pregnancy is a lovely idea.x
ReplyDeleteDon't feel guilty, the pears have fertilised the ground and returned their goodness to the tree for next year, and probably fed some creatures too!
DeleteI think it's a beautiful idea to plant a seed in memory, I am so sorry that you miscarried, I know the pain that brings, please know I will keep you in prayer. Also, I do truly believe that you are right to stay away from that buzzing bag in your garden!! lol... That made me smile! Have a great weekend Susie! Much love, Tammy
ReplyDeleteThank you Tammy, I appreciate you :) xx
DeleteIt's snowed all weekend, maybe that's stopped whatever's buzzing in that bag, although I doubt it because it's been buzzing for a couple of years now!!