The bramble is back.

Took a turn in the garden and noted all the little jobs that have to be done. The bramble has really grown again.
There is a bit of private waste ground behind the back garden and it's really overgrown now, it used to be garages but they where pulled down and houses were supposed to be built there , but nothing has been done, and that's is where the bramble is coming from. Thank goodness I have got strong gloves and pruners to do the job.
When past the local pond and saw men cleaning it out, getting rid of all the rubbish , that people throw in , it's near a bus stop and need I say anything more?
But the pond has been filled with  a lot of wild fowl, but not to much there is ample room for them all.
I have notice that some of the leaves are beginning to turn colour . The autumn chill and scent won't be long in coming.
The big beech tree near me is looking lovely and the sweet chestnut tree also. Not seen any squirrels lately, but it won't be long.
Saw my first dropped acorn the other day, beautiful trees oak trees, all trees are lovely. I think I am a tree hugger person.
Had a visitor in the other day, a slug going up the back door, it was going fast, very fast I would say, but the other half rescued it and put it back outside.

Not grass cutting.

Well I will not be cutting the grass in this rain! I knew this was going to happen. But never mind .
But I have got plans for the garden next year. I will be sorting it out over the coming months in time for next year.

A good time.

On my usual train trip, while going through the countryside I saw 3 deers, in a field, which is very unusual, as it's the first time in 2-3 years since I have been travelling on that line that I have seen deer.
Have been away for a few days and while away saw a heron by the riverside also saw starlings which I haven't seen for a while even at home.
The landscape where I stayed was so different to home, it was so flat, it reminded me of holland . The countryside there was so flat, green and gorgeous, sheep galore. The coastline was shingle and many interesting plants I will have to look them up. All in all had a good time.

Gardening is not a chore now.

The back garden looks a bit better now, but still got a long way to go, but I will get there. The funny thing though is I thought I wouldn't enjoy gardening but I do now. One time it was a chore, maybe I am mellowing in my old age.
But the garden front and back is going to have a rest for a few days as I am going away for a few days, when I come back weather permitting the lawns needs cutting, but most of the tidying up is done.
When I put the recycling out the boxes were covered in snails, it's a good job I like snails, picked  them up and put them safe, no I am not one of those people who chuck them over the fences, I put them safe. Then I moved a box and inside there was the biggest slug going, I left it there , I am not brave to pick up slugs, mind you I have got a cat who likes to bring them in, then she takes them out, but she doesn't harm them.
The weather at the moment is lovely, a blue sky the sun is out not to hot just right and a nice breeze.
Just noticed the pigeons are back they tend to roost on the roof  opposite me. They haven't been around for a while.

Sunshine and showers.

Sunshine and showers, a beautiful rainbow. Plus an hour, work in the garden , what more could I ask for, to get rid of today's stresses?
Found some really lovely bowls that I can use planting up hyacinths for the winter. A good wash and they will be already for the bulbs, but what colours shall I choose, I will wait and see what takes my fancy nearer the time.

Summer has taken a break.

At the moment summer has taken a break, it's a bit chilly, overcast and windy.
Operation tidy up the garden is now on. One last cut of the hedges and prune the tree is now on, then a general tidy up of the whole garden and not forgetting to mow the lawns.
But with our weather you can never tell, this time next week it can be boiling hot again, so that is why I am taking advantage of this cooler weather. The morning and evenings are quiet chilly now, so I have sorted out cold weather clothing for the colder months ahead, as I prefer either early morning or late afternoon, early evenings to do the garden it suits my moods, but when I have to use machinery i do at a sensible time, so not to annoy the neighbours.
I think it was in the last post I said I haven't seen the fox for a while, well later that day I saw it, not sure what sex it is at the moment. It's seems to be friends with one of my cats which is good.  And I do hope it's stay with us during the winter.
It won't be long now and the squirrels will be walking along the fence to get to the beech tree and to collect the beech nuts for their stores and not forgetting the sweet chestnut tree which is rather quiet at the moment.

Quiet at the moment.

Haven't done much in the garden, but planted some chrysanthemums. Did have plans to go out in the afternoon but it was raining to hard,I see what I can do this afternoon.
I have noticed that I have to still do a bit of cutting back.
The weather at the moment is overcast and windy, makes a change from the hot weather we have had just lately .
I have not seen the fox  for a while, but I do know that it still lives behind the hedge. The birds seem to be about more now it's cooler.
My friends allotment has really done well and still going strong. The pumpkins are doing very well, one is so huge already, that one is going to be the main attraction for Halloween . The runner beans have done well and they tasted very good and that is from someone who does not like runner beans very much. More beetroot, must find that recipe for beetroot and apple crumble.
Still ding the snail and slug dance. The other day quiet early in the morning, I walked upped the road, I noticed the silvery trail snails left. To be honest the trails looked very beautiful in the early sunshine., all twinkley.

Beech tree and oak.

The beech tree near me, which is very huge, had shed some of its nuts, due to the rain and high winds which we had lately, it's a timely reminder that autumn will be with us shortly . A lot of people complain about it , but the way I see it, it is a home for the birds and other creatures that live in it. It's shades the  gardens nearby from the sun. Also it helps with the downpours , stops us flooding. We are on flat ground and people have put in car ports  and doing away with their front gardens and they wonder why the water don't go down quickly, I know they have the storm drains put in, but some of them cannot cope very well. It's like a friends neighbour , they had a oak tree cut down and wondered why their front lawn was flooded and my friend's front lawn was flooded as well, till they where told, that the tree helped with drinking so much water, I think they regret it now having it cut down and it was a haven for the birds etc. moan over.

Weather.

Rain, sunshine, then no rain, then a deluge, then just steady rain, then sunshine blue skies, then an other deluge, at the moment no rain.

Fruit and veg.

Helped a friend with their garden, tidying it up they have got abig garden,front and back.
Picked runner beans and a handful of blackberries. The blackberries were nice and sweet, but there will not be a lot this year as they had been cut down ruthle
ssly, as we all know they can take over.
Talking about fruit, my friend neighbour has got a plum tree, so we looked over the fence and saw loads going to waste. We were going to knock to ask if we could take some, but we had a closer look and saw loads of wasps and most of the fruit was rotten. So we didn't , it is a shame. My friend says they cannot be bothered with the tree.
The other day I saw a flock of parakeets flying home to roost. In was early evening  when I saw them, they rested in a tree in the park and then flew home. In the mornings you see them fly over about 8 , flowing to wherever they go to during the day.
The allotment is really doing well especially the pumpkin, there is one huge one. The sweet corn is growing well, as well as the beetroot. The figs are lovely . Leeks, radishes,  peas are doing well. So all in all everything  is ok.

Summer tidy up.

Got a new pair of secataurs, guess what? Yes found the old ones. Must admit the new ones cuts better, but I still prefer my old ones.
Started the summer tidy up now sorting out the bits and pieces what accumulate with out you knowing. Looking at the plants see if they need any tiding up, but no they seem to be ok.
Heard birdsong this morning for the first time in ages, it is a lot cooler, woke up in the night to heavy rain and it's still raining so don't have to water the garden. Slugs and snails are everywhere, so when I pop out shortly I will be doing the slugs and snails dance.
The sky looks so grey and leaden and you think it is going to be like this all day, but come afternoon it will be blue skies , we will have to wait and see. But it is still warm though.

Ps.

I forget to mention in my earlier post, that I found some lovely garden pots I had forgot about, so I am going to see what plants I can get for them, maybe something evergreen . Also I have misplaced my secataurs, so I am going to get a new pair today, and I bet anything you like I will find them!
And this morning I noticed that my fuschias have come into bloom and they look lovely.
I have got a confession, I was not really keen on fuschias , but I have changed my mind now. So thank you, my fuschias for changing my mind and for the lovely show you are doing at the moment.

I found a path.

Done the front lawn and hedge. It's looking good. When I was clearing up the grass and hedge trimmings, I found a path ,which goes half way round the lawn, the people who lived here before grassed it over, so the next project I am going to do is to clear all round it properly and see what it is like, then decide what to do with it, I will most probably keep it.
The little insects I disturbed while doing the clearing up was amazing. Still got the ant hill and at the moment they are no problem.
At the moment I am reading Gardening in Pyjamas by Helen Yemm , it seems like my sort of book as it's answers some of the questions I'd would like to ask but don't , because a lot of gardeners think you should know the answers, but we must all start from the beginning in a new subject, hobby etc. it is an enjoyable read.

Things going well.

Things have been a bit quiet just lately. But my fuschias and geraniums are doing well. When I went out to water them the other day I noticed that theVirginia Creeper, I planted last year and thought I lost it, has picked up well. I really love it when I do something and it goes well, to be honest I have had more failures, then success  so when things goes right, I am really grateful.
Plenty of butterflies again, I am pleased.
It has been a bit cooler today and breezier, which is a pleasant change after all the hot weather we have been having.
Tomorrow weather permitting, front lawn and hedge to be cut .