Frost has arrived!

The cold weather arrived rather quickly so it was a great rush to get everything covered

and cut back so I could put the frames up

to offer some protection to the palms

that I have in the garden.

Although I probably didn't need to rush quite as much, it is far easier to push the poles into none frozen ground than it is to push it into frozen ground.

We have already had a -5C, but at this time of years it usually goes down and comes back up quite quickly so no time for any damage to occur.

I have dug out a lot of my dahlias this year especially some of my favourites. They are all now potted up in dry compost and being kept in a frost free greenhouse.

We have had our wood delivered, so we are ready here as well.

The greenhouse is a little empty this year, compared to previous years that is. I have cut back on the amount of Ensete's  I am keeping. Now hubby can't help as much in the digging out I have tried to buy more 'hardier' plants. I have also been very pleased with m seed grown plants this year so have decided to fill gaps with these as some can grow to the most amazing sizes in one season.

 On the heat mat (which is not switched on) are my carnivorous plants and quite a few cuttings I have taken this year.

A number of palms Cycas Revoluta, Washington Robusta the larger thread palm which are not as hardy and two new plants which are hardy but I am being kind to them this year.

The Agave and succulents have reduced quite considerably.

Lobelia Tupa and a Hardy Tomato being over wintered in here too.

In the garden, I am surprised by what has and what hasn't been affected by the frosts we have had, which have been more or less on a daily basis since last weekend.

The 'TRex' is beginning to wilt.

A Ricinus has definitely collapsed.

As has the fig.

One of the big surprises to me is the Solonum Laciniatum which is grown from seed and has easily hit over 8ft has not been affected by the frosts.

No wilt to be seen on the leaves at all. I am going to leave it and see how long it lasts. Where as right next to it is

The Hardy tomato has totally gone.

Meanwhile the Cypomandra corymbifolia has also come through totally unaffected, so far! Apparently this is a hardy tree tomato from the Andes mountains and can take -10C, we will see. Last year I over wintered this in the greenhouse and had the most awful infestation of whitefly. It has got so big this year that I decided to leave it out.

Till next time x

Happy New Year 2018

Happy New Year!

I got a camera for Christmas, so I can at long last take some decent photos.

The wind has been very bad today

I don't think I have ever seen the fronds on the palm like this.

Fortunately my protection structures remained upright and in one piece.

The fence panels are finally giving up.

They have been up for near 15 years and should really have been replaced before now, but its not our fence.

So I wedge them, tack chicken wire (as you can see below) so the dog can't get into the neighbours. Come Spring time, we shall invite the neighbours round to have a look!

The Arid bed is looking good

and cover seems to be holding up well to the wind too.

I might have to look at replacing the wood which supports all the gravel. I know the bed wasn't  constructed very long ago, but I used wood that had been the edging of the old veg beds and sadly it is rotting quite badly.

Life in the greenhouse continues

my palm is looking really bad, its a Washingtonia Robusta I have had it a number of years. Each summer I plant it out and it goes mental growing like crazy, then each autumn I dig it up and bring it in, as its not hardy. I usually lose a few fronds but this is the worst ever, it does not smell good either, so it maybe bye, bye time.

 Everything else seems fine

All my cuttings look good.

Just have to watch if the weather gets warmer

Quite fascinating some of the colours of the leaves.

The small Agave middle left is not looking good. I often wonder why some years the plants are fine then others even though you have done nothing different they curl up and die. Its rude!

My sonchus palmensis sees to be coping with greenhouse life, I hope it comes through ok as I am eager to see how it continues once its back out in the garden. I intend to start some more from seed as well as I really love them.

Cyphomandra Betacea is still fruiting and is looking good.

I even took some leaves off one of my succulents and they have rooted already.

All seems rosy in the greenhouse.

If you remember I treated our decking with Osmo Anti slip decking oil. I can highly recommend it. It was not cheap but totally, totally worth it, the patio at the top is like an ice rink, where as this decking is totally none slip!

I Love My Garden!

Especially coming into the autumn, this is when its at its best, everything is BIG & I think Beautiful!

Take a short walk with me.

The Brugmansia's are flowering, the scent from them is amazing and I had totally forgotten this one was white!!!

I haven't been down the garden for a few days due to the amount of rain we had had plus a number of hospital appointments as well. So when I wandered down today to hang out some washing I was amazed to see the Brugmansia San Guinea in full flower? Where did they come from??

I have no idea whats going on here this plant is ginormous, taller than me

So had a root around its base and found its label

It is bigger than 180cm!!! and where are the flowers lol!

Who planted a tomato plant behind the fig???? How did it get there?? I have no idea??

The last photo and the next photo are of Blue Salvia that I bought this year from 'Sarah Raven' so how do two plants grow totally differently. The last one is as expected 18inches to 2ft tall, gorgeous purply blue flowers.

This one also has the lovely purply blue flowers but is close to 6ft tall? Not sure whats going on here either?

This is my Cyphomandra Betacea, becoming a favourite, doesn't look much from here, great leaves though.

but look underneath the leaves and you have the sweetest little flowers on long stalks

they are definitely different.

The Ricinus communis 'Red Giant', not my favourite of this plant species, as it is most definitely not 'Giant'.

But the seed pods are the most vibrant red, to be honest the camera does not do it justice.

Below 3 Eucomis, such pretty ones, I think the flowers look like exploding stars.

and a pink one ready to flower.

Tree spinach, and yes you can eat it. This self seeded everywhere this year or should I say last year and has been popping up everywhere. Quite an amazing plant as it easily grows to 6ft+  not everyones cup of tea, but a great filler and looks pretty too.

My stripy Canna, sheltered by the Paulownia

another 'new' favourite plant Solanum laciniatum, (Kangaroo Apple) this is such am amazing plant

again rapidly heading for the 6ft mark, has really pretty leaves and the added bonus of these lovely blue flowers. A definate must for next year.
I have been doing some research into this and it can be over wintered in a frost free greenhouse, but the concensus is, if it grows 6ft from seed in one year why bother.

There are lots of these on the plant so I am hopeful I shall have my own seed and grow a forest of them lol!!

Back in May this little cactus began flowering in the greenhouse.

It is still going strong today!

Just to prove I do actually do things in the garden even when its raining,

well not in the garden...

more like in the greenhouse!! So I didn't get wet. I love being in there when its raining.

I now have 2 new sturdy shelves which should easily last my lifetime!

Off to do some sewing now!