WILD WAY: SEPTEMBER 2022

5 LATE SUMMER FLOWERS, CUTTING, WINTER SALADS, BUTTERFLIES

As we near the end of summer, life on our little farm turns to cutting: cutting the meadows, cutting the hedges, cutting back finished vegetables. It’s a mammoth task, with over 100m of hedges, thank goodness local farmers help with the meadows to use the hay for winter feed.

There’s an element of relaxation to this time of year despite the heavy work of cutting and clearing large amounts of material because plant growth begins to slow down. There’s a feeling that the growing months are coming to an end and I’m released from the pressure and responsibility of maintaining so many growing plants. Soon even the weeds that do need to be removed to prevent overwhelming other plants will give me a break.

I much prefer the wild, natural feel to landscapes and gardens but after a good season of growth, the feeling of space and light when an overgrown hedge is reduced in size is always a pleasant surprise. And all of those clippings won’t be wasted because they form the bulk of our compost pil…