Monday 9 November 2015

Grey skies but very mild..........

 Gloomy days but incredibly mild.    The honeysuckle does not know whether it is Spring or Autumn.
 Most of the day was spent clearing leaves, an endless task in this woodland garden.
 Most end up in the copse.   When Spring arrives most of this will have disappeared.
 I also had time to cut back some of the trees.    Little Grandson loves to come to this area and his safety is my priority.    Still lots of clearing to do but I made a good start.
 The lollipop beech look beautiful at this time to year.
 Due to the damp conditions and the mild temperatures everything is looking lush.
 I am concerned that if we suddenly have a really cold snap, how will the plants fayre.
 I personally love the seasons to be as they should.   A warm November just does not feel right.
 Whatever happens, gardeners  cope.......we just do :)
Just wanted to show you my neighbours pond..........it is on the boundary of the copse.      I can literally put my hand in the water, it is that close.         I love the way they have left it looking completely natural, in tune with the surrounding countryside.

Have a good week...........enjoy your garden, whatever the weather.

26 comments:

  1. Your garden is a magically beautiful place. We are entering a drought in South Africa- so depressing... With water restrictions... I can literally feel the plants withering away... We are using bath water to water where we can. But climate change is a global problem.

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    1. It is always so worrying when drought takes hold. I do hope some rain comes for you soon.
      Climate change is a global problem. I walk towards the crone, but I worry for you young people and your children, who will have to face the problems to come.
      In saying that - things can change, I live in hope :)

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  2. Hi Cheryl,

    Lovely to see your garden, and must be really nice to be out in November happily tidying away.
    I haven't been out in mine for a long time and really need to do some raking.

    I agree with it being wrong to have mild temperatures in November. However it'll also be only the second time in my memory that i will have a birthday mild enough not to bed thick clothes and the heating on. So I'm more than happy with the current temperatures even if it's been foggy for what feels like an eternity.

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    1. Yes Liz,
      It has been wonderful to work outside in November without a coat and hat on.........
      BUT I would still rather it be as it should :) here speaks a different generation to you my friend............

      Glad to hear you are saving money on your heating bills:)

      Where have you been........I miss your garden posts .

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  3. Your garden is looking fabulous still, I think that's the beauty of a woodland garden, it all looks so natural unlike here where are the fallen leaves just look wet, soggy and out of place. Your neighbour's pond looks beautiful, I can imagine sitting by the side of that in summer enjoying a picnic.

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    1. Thank you Jo. I thought a natural garden would be less work.........ha! foolish me :)

      Funny you should say that..........I sometimes take a sandwich and cup of tea and watch the ducks and any other creature that uses the pond in the Spring/Summer.
      It is wonderful for attracting wildlife.

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  4. Here November is extremely mild too, but the last week leaves are falling rapidly and trees become bare. You still have so much green in your garden, love it. It must be a wonderful place for your grandson to play. You are so lucky to have such a wonderful view on your neighbour's pond, I also like the natural look as if it was always there.

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    1. The garden is very green Janneke....too green for November. It feels rather strange to be truthful.

      It is so strange how children like to explore wild overgrown places in the garden. He is only three, so is not allowed in there on his own........

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  5. Hi Cheryl
    I love the photos of your copse and the neighbour's pond. I would love a 'natural' garden but the instinct to keep things tidy is too strong. The winds have been really strong here over the last couple of days, windy and damp and rainy and drizzly - not nice in other words. I managed to get out to rake up some leaves yesterday for a while - I felt really chilled when I came in even though it is mild - it's the damp that does it for me. Our cherry tree leaves haven't started to fall yet and are still green - very strange - when we do get a cold snap they will probably all fall off at once.

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    1. Hi Elaine,

      The copse is fenced off.......it is the only wild part of the garden. It is wonderful habitat for wildlife, and for the Grandchildren to study what visits or lives in that area.

      I understand the damp.....it gets right through to your bones. We still have leaves clinging to the trees.....clearing them is an endless task here.

      Have a good week Elaine.

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    2. p.s. Love the Lady Penelope wheelbarrow - in that colour, at least you won't lose it in the undergrowth - lol.

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    3. My dear friend
      I received a parcel this morning - which was a lovely surprise. You know me so well, the book is right up my street - such a thoughtful thing to do - thank you so much, I know it will prove an enjoyable read.

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    4. That is ok Elaine,
      You are more than welcome. I loved reading it.....fascinating.

      That is exactly why I have a pink wheelbarrow, I was always misplacing the old metal one :)
      Plus it was very old and falling apart.............a bit like it's owner :)

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  6. Pretty sure the magnolia next door is coming back into bud

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    1. That is amazing Simon for this time of year.

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  7. Hi Cheryl. You have been busy. I can tell by the load of leaves in the cart. My garden is full of leaves too. I get out every few days and mulch them up. It is crazy warm here too. I wouldn't mind these temperatures all year. Just cool enough for a light jacket or none if you are working in the garden. Love that pond next door. Is that an old well house in the pond? It looks odd sitting there in the pond surrounded by water. What fun to have it available to watch wildlife. Our honeysuckle still has some leaves but no blooms. It is odd that what is blooming now is a few of the salvias, alyssum. They being annuals I am so happy they continue to bloom. Of course the witch hazel is blooming, one expects it bloom now. We received another 3/4inch of rain this week. Such excitement. It helps the plants get ready for the cold weather that will surely come any day.

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    1. Hi Lisa,

      The object in the pond is a floating island. The doctor, who lives next door, loves carpentry. He made it for the ducks or moorhen during the breeding season. It has been used mainly by Mallards

      Glad you have at last had some rain.....long overdue for you.

      Have a good week..

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  8. You have really done a lot of work. I agree with you about unseasonably warm weather. Just doesn't feel right.

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    1. I just prefer the seasons to be as they should. They seem to be changing at a rapid rate...........

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  9. I love the pond next to the copse! No wonder the grandchildren enjoy playing in this area--if I were a child, it would be my secret hideout, too. It's been unseasonably warm here, too, though we've had a frost the last few nights, so my garden is definitely "going to sleep" for the winter. I'm afraid when winter comes, the cold is going to be a shock to my system.

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    1. There is a huge willow in the copse. I cut it right back when we moved here and it now has multi stems. It is a great tree for the children to climb :)

      We have not had a frost yet...most unusual. The garden looks as though we are in early Spring, I even have daffodil shoots peeping through the ground in the copse :(

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    2. Oh my gosh. Daff shoots in November! I have had them in late January because of a warm up. It doesn't help them any. It doesn't hurt either. It just looks weird.
      Lisa

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    3. It looks weird for sure Lisa.....I was shocked when I saw them !!

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  10. I do wonder these days do we still have seasons? The weather does have a mind of it's own. I must admit I prefer seasons both us and the plants know what to expect then!
    But as you say whatever the weather we just cope the best we can.

    I do like the photograph of the honeysuckle, and the wheelbarrow is my favourite colour - I love it.

    Do hope this week is passing well for you.

    All the best Jan

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  11. That is a stunning picture of the honeysuckle, one of the nicest I've seen, I totally agree, the seasons are out of synch and the plants are utterly confused. What a delightful copse you have, and how lovely to be that close to your neighbours pond! You have some marvelous statues too....Oh, those beech trees are glowing....how scrumptious!xxx

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  12. That is a stunning picture of the honeysuckle, one of the nicest I've seen, I totally agree, the seasons are out of synch and the plants are utterly confused. What a delightful copse you have, and how lovely to be that close to your neighbours pond! You have some marvelous statues too....Oh, those beech trees are glowing....how scrumptious!xxx

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