Although it’s sunny here now, for much of this week the valley has been shrouded in a dense fog. A dramatic end to the mild autumn weather we’ve had and, as the fog cleared, so did the warmth. Winter temperatures have arrived, the ghastly fleeces we have to wear too. With energy prices so high we’re being stingy with the heating. At least the energy crisis can’t affect what we see outside in the garden and wild. Stay warm everyone.
This week I removed the lower leaves from all of the brassicas to give better access for birds to pick off caterpillars, slugs and whitefly. Brussel sprouts are in abundance and ready to be picked. They taste better after a frost but you don’t have to wait.
The leaves all went onto the compost heap, alongside older chard leaves, creating a colourful neon pile! Not all leaves in the garden should be cleared, as I wrote in this article earlier in the week.
Oak trees in the mist.
When the fog hides the view it’s as if our garden is floating in cloud. Everything is starting to die back now.
I’ve been carefully observing the plants in the garden to see how the new ones have bulked up this year and where gaps are for next year.
My short watercolour course is sadly coming to an end next week and we’re working on a second project, starting with the base washes (above). It’s of a water scene with boats. I loved that many people on social media thought it also looked like birch bark, which it does.
An as yet unknown mushroom in our lawn, I’m hoping it will multiply next year.
The plant here is Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’, an easy houseplant that yes, is related to asparagus but is definitely not edible. We started painting our new home when we moved in last year and did reasonably well at first, painting the living room and making a start on various other rooms. But it proved too much for us alongside our work and garden, so we sought help from a local decorators who did a brilliant job. Now we’re arranging houseplants and furniture to finally make the new house our home. This is in my studio.
The view out of the studio window obscured, for now, by the fog.
Allium seed heads still hanging on in a couple of spots.
The sun burning through the fog above the hedge to the main garden.
Larch, Larix decidua, a deciduous conifer with striking autumnal colours before the needles drop.
I’ve received most of the trees and shrubs I want to add this year, including three witch hazels with this moody, colourful autumn foliage. I’ll be discussing the exact cultivars, the conditions they prefer and why I chose them, out of all the hundreds of other tree options, in Decembers main Wild Way Newsletter (for paid subscribers).
Jack,
Thanks so much for the reply. I do remember something happening with the platform and thought I’d done the necessary to continue at the slightly higher rate (on Substack? - their repeated sign-in requirements regularly put my head in a spin, I’m afraid). But as long as everything’s fine.
By the way, I really like your autumn-merging-into-winter photos. The damp, the fog, skeletal trees, colours of decay, the sense of quiet. It’s a beautiful time and exciting with buds for next year already peeping up on plants given up for dead in the hot summer.
I take slight exception with you on a non-gardening matter - ‘ghastly fleeces’. We never get on top of our clothes moth problem here. In our big, warm apartment block they are to the indoors areas what Mrs Vine Weevil is to the outside ones. I don’t have an intact woollen jumper, but those cosy fleeces made from plastic bottles resist everything!
Regards,
Ian
Jack,
Thanks for another set of beautiful snaps and info.
My message tonight isn’t actually a comment. Apologies in advance if I should have used a different contact method. I looked for one.
I had an odd email at 10.08 today saying that I’ve cancelled my subscription with you. I can’t find any other way of contacting you about it apart from clicking on mail links in the email itself, which I’m loathe to do in case it’s a scam. I certainly don’t want to cancel my subscription!
Below is a copy of the text I received (I’ve asterisked out my own email address).
Regards,
Ian.
« Your membership at Jack Wallington Garden Design Ltd. has been CANCELLED
Dear ianrusper,
Your membership at Jack Wallington Garden Design Ltd. has been cancelled.
Account: ianrusper (************************)
Membership Level: Annual subscription
If you did not request this cancellation and would like more information please contact us at contact@jackwallington.com
Respectfully,
Jack Wallington Garden Design Ltd. »