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14/10/2011


my photos

BASKING IN OCTOBER SUNSHINE

Monty Don said on Gardener's World this evening that he's been pleased with how his Dahlias have done this year, and so have I.

The one above is Happy Princess, one of the five dark-leaved varieties I ordered from Unwins at the beginning of Summer.

Ordered at the same time were plugs of New Guinea Impatiens, which I planted four in a trough. Usually this is the time of year to turf out the Summer bedding, but I can't do much at the minute as they are still flowering away like mad! These are great value plants, which are tolerant to a bit of drought and sun.



This beautifully structured nest came out of one of our neighbour's trees.  The bronze leaves on top are from the shrub/tree Amelanchier. Does this nest belong to a Crow or Magpie, anyone know?

I've been secretly longing for this monstrosity of a conifer to come down, at least the top section anyhow. Magpies seemed to favour it, and the sound of a magpie is not the kind of birdsong I want to be hearing at any time of the day.

I shall miss the little Dunnock though, who did like to sit right at the very top and sing it's little heart out!



I've seen an increase in Red Admirals in my garden this year, four together on Michaelmas Daisy. Even today there was one catching up on last minute nectar from Verbena B.

Other plants they've favoured over the summer months have been Giant Scabious and Cosmos.

I know their caterpillars like to feed on nettles, so I keep a big patch in an unused spot at the top of the garden. The butterflies like to feed on apples, so leave out some windfalls if you have them.



This fern looks especially lovely in Autumn light. I've a few different varieties planted in part shade around the base of a tree.

We were down in Somerset for a few days this week, and on a cycle ride I noticed the edge-ways were covered with Harts Tongues. The first time I've ever happened to see so many growing together in the wild.



My garden this year has again been filled with many different varieties of bee. Most of them I'm not familiar with, but I'd be interested to learn more about them in the future.

The small one above is on another one of those Dahlias, this time Happy First Love. This variety has almost a paint-brushed effect on the petals.

Sadly all five are coming to an end now, but I shall try my very best to overwinter them, but cannot promise any success?

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10 comments:

nikkipolani said...

Louise, you couldn't have picked a better title for this post. I could feel that sunshine on my shoulders.

Anonymous said...

I'm loving that dahlia 'Happy First Love'. Might look out for that next year.

Anonymous said...

A lovely post and terrific photos!
I think that I saw a red Admiral today but it was flying away from me.
I'm used to magpies as there's a mob of them on the allotments! Flighty xx

Crafty Green Poet said...

a lovely sunny autumnal post! The red admiral is beautiful, i saw one last week, always lovely to see butterflies so late in the year.

Anonymous said...

...and for information on bees see
http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/index.html
Flighty xx

Pomona said...

I don't know if you heard Gardener's Question Time, but they were suggesting that you leave the dahlias in the ground over winter - Bob Flowerdew's advice. You could probably listen to it on Iplayer?

Pomona x

Bumpkin Hill said...

I just adore your dahlias, they are so delicate and that bird nest in amazing, aren't birds so clever! I too am always trying to encourage more butterflies and bees into the garden, I am hoping the series by Sarah Raven on this will soon be on BBC. Isn't Gardeners World so much better with Monty back! Catherine x

Reading Tea Leaves said...

I'm so pleased to still be seeing so many butteflies and bees in the garden. The warm weather we had recently has really extended the season and my cosmos and verbena b is flowering like crazy!

Love your photos Louise. The little nest is wonderful.

Jeanne
x

VP said...

Lovely photos and I adore Dahlias :)

I leave my Dahlias in the ground over winter. They do need a good thick mulch blanket to keep them warm though.

Nursery said...

Enjoyed this about those nice butterflies. I plant butterfly bushes around my hummingbird feeders hoping to catch some with clarity like you have. No luck :( I enjoyed your lovely pictures