Over the FENCE I've changed colour themes!
Fresh, bright autumn days were perfect for getting stuck into the clear up. David pressure washed all the paths and cleared copious piles of fallen leaves, prior to having the uncomfortable cobbled path replaced with gravel and repointing the stone sets. Anticipating an awful mess, we decided to go 'hell for leather', so most of the work was completed in one day. The worst job was pruning Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’, but once all the leaves were cleared I was able to use all the spent tomato compost to mulch the borders underneath.
While I was at it, a spur of the moment decision to change the colour themes saw me lifting and replanting lemon perennials with orange, purples with blues, whites with yellows.
As some unusual plants, such as cuphea and impatiens, were new to the borders this year, I took cuttings from them as insurance against a cold, wet winter. Down came the faded stems of veronicastrum and sanguisorba, exposing coppery miscanthus in all its autumn glory. Hellebore leaves, hardy geraniums and epimedium were cleared to let ferns dominate the shady enclaves.
The garden is still looking busy. Swathes of ornamental grasses dominate the central border. On the roof terrace a flash of drama was provided by kniphofia ‘Limelight’. Evergreen mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ has come into flower under the apple tree.
I’m gradually building up my salvia varieties and currently have over a dozen. I’m not taking any chances this winter so I’ve lifted all but the largest for overwintering in the greenhouse and taken copious cuttings. I love the front garden at this time of year: the twisted stems of contorted hazel are gradually revealed as it sheds its leaves. Melianthus major, Euphorbia mellifera, fatsia ‘Spider's Web’ and Ricinus communis add to the architectural display.
Back in the spring we were invited to take part in the latest series of ITV’s Love Your Garden, featuring small domestic 'Before and After' garden projects. As we were thinking of revamping the ‘catio’ this was the perfect opportunity for fame! David Domoney came along with the film crew and we had a great time filming our progress with the cats, but it’s true what they say: never work with children or animals!
My highlight
Being featured on ITV’s
Love Your Garden, plus jam and jelly making from home-grown apples and grapes.