October Journal 2005

2^nd October

I grew both the Michaelmas daisies and the pampas grass on the cover picture from seed. That is not strictly accurate, although I sowed the pampas deliberately from a packet, the Michaelmas daisies were self sown. They haven't the vibrant colours of their parents but their flowers are larger and their habit more vigourous.

13^th October

I went round the garden snapping pictures today as I am sure we must have a frost soon. After an initial cold snap October has been warm although at times rather wet. The busy Lizzies and blue lobelia are looking better than they did in the summer. The dahlias and cannas are at their peak but leaves on the trees are beginning are beginning to change colour and the haws have turned red

The picture above doesn't do justice to the brilliant red flowers of fuscia "Coral" which looks very much like Thalia to my untrained eye. I overwintered two pots in the conservatory last year and planted them into the ground. Coral unfortunately is not hardy so the plants will die in winter but I aim to buy in several cuttings next spring as it is the fuscia I have most success with and once it starts flowering it carries on until the froats.

26^th October

I am leaving for eleven days in Tunisia this afternoon. So far we have had just one slight frost which did very little damage, scorched a few dahlia leaves but that was about it and everything is in full bloom. What it will be like when I come back from Tunisia on Nov. 6th I dread to think.