Quiet Time In The Garden

The last few weeks have brought my garden into a lovely quiet slumber, leaves have all but fallen, I've cleared some away but I don't mind a few drifts here and there, I like the musty damp smell of decaying leaves on a late autumn crisp frosty morning. Weeds have now given up for this year, perennials lie dormant once more awaiting the spring sun before bursting into life once more.

Most days I pop out and have a wonder around with a brew and to feed the birds, its nice just to stand there taking it all in, the piercing calls of flocks of long tailed tits returning to the garden after their summer excursions in the countryside, robins and dunnocks call loudly and sparrows and starlings feed ravenously on the food put out for them.

All tender plants are now wrapped and protected, tucked away in hope we don't get any savage cold weather during the upcoming winter months, everything that needs doing at this time is done, its now a time of reflection, contemplation and enjoyment of what lies before me

 

That's a lovely picture you've painted there Bilbo! But I still have to go and weed my rose bed at some point!

 

Exotics are all wrapped up for the winter ... but I decided, a bit late, that some Hollies I have been growing on (from seedlings) were in fact big enough to plant - in fact I thought they would be better off planted, as I don't have enough room to overwinter them under-cover, which was what I had planned to do. So I planted them ...

I've got a few more jobs like that to do ... need to order some more bare root plants ... and THEN I will be done and can enjoy the Quiet Time

We still have lots of leaves on trees. I need to check back to photos in previous years, but I reckon we are late here this year. Only one sub-zero frost so far, which is probably helping keep the leaves on the trees.

 

Not very 'quiet' here! Fruit trees to spray, vines to prune, tonnes of manure to shift to mulch borders. Planting, rose pruning, tidying...definitely not enough daylight hours at the moment

 

It sounds like you need a hand Noisette! Shall I round up a few members to help you out.

 

Bilbo. That's poetry. I read it twice three times to really enjoy it. Top marks.

 

You're on, Sheal Make sure there are a few big, strong chaps

 

Noisette, it's gone very quiet on this thread. I think I know where those men have gone.......

 

Looks as though we'll have to postpone the hard labour for a surprise treat when you all come over on the GC charabanc trip next summer

 

I've like to visit Chateau de la Ballue when their Wisteria is in flower ... perhaps come on to you after that?

http://www.pinterest.com/kgardenpins/chateau-de-la-ballue/
http://www.la-ballue.com/

 

http://www.vasterival.fr/index.html
http://www.boisdesmoutiers.com/

Do you know these two, K? Last time I visited, Bois de Moutiers had some impressive white wisteria standards. Le Vasterival is less formal than most French gardens, but what a terrific collection of plants, and beautifully planted...
Better re-name the jaunt the GC Tour de France!

 

Not heard of either of those ... of for a browse ... it would be nice to have a list of worthwhile gardens in France so I can put some Pins-in-a-Map for anytime we are travelling around and would welcome a stop-off. Villandry for example ... and Eyrignac Manor ... not done either of those. A new thread "Great gardens to visit in France" perhaps?