Autumn Bliss

It has started to feel very autumnal just recently, this is maybe because the michaelmas daisies are starting to come out, only just mind you. Autumn is one of my most favourite times, I know June is the time gardens look at their best, but I still prefer September and October.
We are loaded down with tomatoes this year which is a good thing as the vegetable garden has not gone well this season the weather has been against it, I only hope the winter brassicas made an effort now it has cooled down abit.
I am hoping to put a few plants in the garden this week as the ground is now quite moist but still warm and they will start to get roots down before winter arrives.

House Proud at Goltho Gardens

We have a bad case of whitefly in the vegetable garden this year, as you walk in clouds of them fly up off our poor old brassicas, unfortunately there is little that can be done to get rid of them, we have even had the vacuum cleaner out trying to suck them up! They have really enjoyed the warm, dry weather that we have had this year. The vegetables in general have not done too well because it has been so dry and it has been jolly hard work getting what we have, the tomatoes are now gearing up to full crop protential and also the courgettes, that most reliable of vegetables. We have planted another crop of french beans and some peas for later as we are a little concerned we will not have any brassicas if the whitefly have anything to do with it. Ahh well that is gardening!!

Garden Revives

We have had a couple of plant saving down pours of rain and now the garden is starting to revive, it is looking good for August with the Praire border in full flower and the roses gearing up for a second go. A rabbit has managed to get past the fencing that we have all round the garden and take up residence somewhere in the garden and has taken a nibble or two at a couple of the new michealmas daisies in the Autumn border, but most of them are starting to fatten their buds ready for next month.
The ponds are still ridiculously low, with the poor fish just about managing to stay under water, we have started to feed the large Koi in the lower pond and now they come up every day, it is so good to see them regularly.

Dry Times at Goltho

I have not published anything recently as it has been so dry that nothing has been happening, I have eventually cut back all the old geraniums, astrantias and other early flowering perennials as it would be too late if I waited any longer, but they have 'sulked' as it was so hot and with not a drop of rain they did not want to grow again.
We have a strict no watering policy here at Goltho Gardens, but we have had to back down from my principles as some of my shrubs have badly drooped. We have got the quad and trailor out and bucketed water on to these poor things as we would have lost them. There is still no rain forcast, what a year!!!
We have finished the new bathroom so are ready now to receive guests for Bed and Breakfast,
we have two double bedrooms available.