Autumn – turn over a new leaf?

AUTUMN

Don’t you just love this time of year – the colours, the fallen leaves, putting the garden to bed (that usually takes me all winter!). Surely it’s the best season of the year although by the time spring comes around I will probably say the same having endured long cold days unable to get out. Well there’s no pleasing a gardener is there – it’s either too wet, too hot, too cold, too windy but that really is the joy and challenge of it all – the working with nature, not against it, to get the best from your garden.

Now the days are getting shorter, the leaves are tumbling but the colours in the garden are still glorious.   It’s time to get out whenever you can – rake up the leaves, tidy the greenhouse or go for a walk in the countryside.

If like me you are having a sort out and popping into the garden whenever the weather or timing is right I suggest you try these fabulous garden shoes in a fun Leaf design – perfect for Autumn mornings – just make sure your feet don’t disappear amongst the leaves.

To jazz up a jumper how about our brand NEW Leaf jewellery – these are REAL gold plated leaves – choose from Oak, Aspen, Fern or we even have an acorn. They are really lightweight and add a touch of sparkle to your darker winter clothes.

Maybe your gardening gloves are a bit tatty after working outside all year – treat yourself to a new pair – we have loads to choose from. Or invest in a pair of Gold Leaf Gardening Gloves – described as probably the BEST leather gardening gloves around. The leather is soft and supple – so good in fact the gloves are extremely popular with the gardeners at Buckingham Palace! Maybe put them on your Christmas wish list.

One last thing before I leave you (excuse the pun) – apologies for no blog during September – it was an extra busy time as the lovely Horse Diva herself got married and an amazing day was had by all. We wish Katie & Simon every happiness.

Plus I’m pleased to say that the love of colour is hereditary as you can see by the glorious colours of her wedding flowers.

Now my thoughts must turn to Christmas!!!

A woman in her garden – May/June

They call it faint May – because of the changing of the seasons and the heady blossom that prevails but I believe it’s because there is just so much that needs doing in the garden during May that your head’s in a spin!! Well mine was anyway and it’s only now that I can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
Everything grew just like topsy, except of course those things I really wanted to grow such as the mange tout seeds planted in haste back in April. Of approx 25 sown only 4 germinated and one of those is struggling still!! Don’t expect a good crop of those for our tea!! Still the parsnip seeds which I just scattered germinated really well as did the carrots .

The runner beans were so so and then I went and planted them out too soon and we had a couple of cold and windy nights so their growth is a little stunted. I spied a first flower on one though so fingers crossed they will pull through. The potatoes look good too but am thinking I should cut down on carbs!! All in all a fair result for just planting left over seeds – some over 2 years old. And luckily for me a gardener friend has bought me some young plants to fill in the gaps – 3 sweetcorn, an outdoor cucumber, a courgette and a squash plant – gardeners are generous souls.

The veggie plants I bought are all producing now – broadbeans. (not my favourite but fill a gap) and spring cabbages (yummy with mint sauce and as I did last weekend, shredded, patted dry and fried with palma ham until crispy!)

Now it’s June and the roses are out and smell gorgeous,

the sweet peas are just starting to bloom and smell equally gorgeous, the alliums are mostly over, flopping about and distributing their seeds, foxgloves are majestic but tend to be battered by those sharp thundery showers, perennial geraniums are blooming and here and there are numerous gaps that need filling either with annuals or a new perennial or two. Love hebes and heucheras so will get a few more of them I think.

Countless shrubs need trimming back into shape before they take over the borders and a decision needs to be made on the two conifers at the back of the house which are going skywards. Let alone all the other trees which surround my garden – where shall we start – my head’s in a spin again. Thank goodness for the lovely Mark who helps with the garden – am sure he will advise me or bully me into submission!

And it seems that a lot of you have been busy in the garden too with sales up on last year and the Garden Divas team being kept busy. – two of our most popular products this last few weeks are the ultra glamorous Foxgloves Garden Gloves and our extremely comfy backdoorshoes

 

 

 

 

Looks like you are all getting kitted out for a summer in the garden – lets just hope we can enjoy the fruits of our labours after these busy weeks!

Happy Gardening