Making the most....

...a couple of hours in the November sunshine....

Froggy the Shed Radio.
(It was a gift from Sarah and Chris when they were little,
supposed to be a shower radio but does an admirable job as
a shed radio.)

There is still a lot of putting to bed and tidying up to do in the garden.   This morning was the perfect opportunity to get on with a few of the jobs.   I tuned the Shed Radio (aka Froggy - above) to Classic FM and got on with enjoying the music and the sunshine.

First I did a bit of seed gathering from the Agapanthas - I want to try and grow some from seed.   I don't know how successful I will be...we'll see.

Agapantha Seed Heads

Then  there was some composting of old plants past their fruitful usefulness.  And a bit of weeding, the ground soft enough to aid my war on dandelions and other tough rooted unwanteds.

After that, a bit of transplanting of Euphorbia which had self seeded.   I promised Claire one for her garden.   After all, they are not fussy about conditions so long as they get a bit of sunshine (this variety), otherwise they seem to thrive on neglect and are perfect for a busy Mum trying to establish a bit of colour in her garden.   There is something very satisfying about being able to 'give away'  plants, especially after the barren start this garden was in three and a half years ago.  The Euphorbia will have almost luminous lime yellow-green flowers in about late February early March....just when we are looking for a bit of fizz to brighten our grey days.

Euphorbia, the big one is about 2 years old -
and the little ones self seeded from adult this summer.

Then I planted the Buddleja  in its permanent position.   At least, I think it will be permanent.   It should grow big and busy, which I am hoping will break some of the wind down this fence where it hammers into the greenhouse.

Buddleja, it has grown even since I received it
a few weeks ago.

It was lovely to be outside grubbing around in the dirt!   The autumn colours are still a little bit evident, especially in the grapevine.

Autumn reds painted on the grape vine

And in the remaining leaves of the silver birches, also their bark is now mature enough to take on the lovely silvery sheen which glows at this time of year.

Little silver birch

The slightly bigger silver birch

The tree on the left is slightly smaller than the one on the right, slightly younger as the bark has not really turned silver yet.

The cyclamen on JP's grave are really doing very well.   It is a very pretty spot here, sheltered too.



It is lovely to have trees in the garden.   I have missed trees since I left my Stur garden in Dorset as this one had none in it originally.   These aren't very big yet but already they are adding impact.   I loved to see the Robin hopping among the branches of the right hand tree this morning.

One of the first shrubs I planted, those three odd years ago, were the Red Dogwood (Cornus) - this year they are big enough to give a lovely splash of red to the front of the patio.   Earlier their leaves were reddish purple and their berries snow white, very pretty and very satisfying when all is grey.

Dog wood (Cornus), planted 3 years ago this month.

Another very satisfying autumn plant has been the Rosa Rugosa.  Mine has the snow white flowers - it was superb this last summer. The nice thing is the roses make wonderful red hips and the leaves go buttery yellow in the autumn.

Rosa Rugosa hips

My aim is to be able to have a bit of seasonal colour and interest in the garden all year round.  I have to learn as I go along...it is so much fun, especially when there are little successes.

Gardening is such a wonderful therapeutic pastime - even when I don't feel like going out into the damp and cold, or scorching heat, I am always glad I made the effort when I do... I feel so much more alive for doing so.

Cyclamen in all their glory,
on JP's grave

Little yellow rose, Bride of Sighs
still covered in fragrant busd

The cyclamen seem to thrive in this garden.   They are quite one of my favourites.   I never had much success with them in South Africa as it was far too hot for them  to survive  for long there.  Here they die back after spring and come out again in autumn...perfect for a bit of colour at this time of year.


Lastly I just checked that everything was OK in the greenhouse.   I really must make it a priority to get everything ship shape in here this week.   At the moment everything is just put in as best  it can fit.   It needs sorting out, some re-potting, some brought into the house...and so on and so forth.   The winter salads are doing OK.   Look at the winter lettuce in the little pots on the gutter shelf.

Winter lettuce in the hanging gutter shelf

Everything is a bit higgledy-piggledy

What I do notice when I open the door of the greenhouse is the most wonderful aroma from all these plants...it is a sensational treat in itself.

Now I hear the thunder rumbling against Mount Margam...time to call it a day.   Time to have a deep soak in a hot bath and plan the week ahead.

See you hear again next week, I'm sure there will be more to tell you.