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LATE SUMMER FAVOURITES AND A 300TH POST GIVEAWAY

This is my 300th post so I'm having another giveaway!

The giveaway prize will not necessarily be influenced by my love of the garden, leaving it open to everyone.

If you'd like to enter, comment on this post and I'll pick out a winner at random on Sunday 11th September.

Good luck!

This year the Sweetpeas have been very slow to flower, and slow too to even climb up the poles.

Maybe because they're Elegant Ladies, and can be seen here proudly showing themselves off with a 50p jelly-mould!

Monty Don suggests Sweetpeas are to be picked every 10 days.

I guess I should take his advice.



Big 'n blousy Gladioli.

I've never ever grown these before, so I took a chance in planting some up in large pots.

I stole the idea from Carol Klein, after seeing her do the same in her own garden at Glebe Cottage.

They're doing really well, and come as a highly recommended addition to a late Summer garden, and the good thing about having them in pots is you can move them around when you so desire.

It seems the odd spike may become a little top-heavy, like the one above which flopped over in today's blustery conditions.

I snipped it off, and it's now looking drop-dead gorgeous indoors!



Another new discovery for me this year is Helenium.

It's orange colour is just perfect at this time of year.

I definitely plan to introduce more to my garden next year, and hopefully divide this one if it gets through the Winter?



Dahlia, an old favourite of mine, especially the dark-leaved varieties.

I confess to having bought five new young plants this year.

I'm by no means an expert gardener, and all becomes hit 'n miss when it comes to overwintering them.

This year I made the mistake of placing a couple out in the borders, later discovering I'd inadvertently given the resident earwigs the go-ahead for a good nibble - also all five were sprayed with a washing-up liquid solution to rid an infestation of blackfly.

All were rescued in the nick of time and somehow all managed to survive their ordeal, and each in turn are giving a lively display of colour.



Another plant now an array of flowers is the Japanese Anemone.

You'd be forgiven for thinking its pastel tones would fail to fit in with the bolder shades of late Summer.

I've small pockets of space around the garden to grow a small selection of vegetables.

Today I've picked a generous trug full of Runner Beans and another 1lb in weight of Raspberries.

No sign of any Summer Squash as yet, and the Tomatoes are slow to ripen.

I watched that Blackbird in the photo be such a good father to his broods this year, and have helped him out with a few sultanas here and there!



I've seen, and heard the foxes again on a number of occasions.

The neighbour's terrier lets me know when he and his sibling are around.

It goes ballistic!