Quite a few windfall apples, mainly from Annie-Elizabeth but a few Worcester Pearmain as well – I expect that there will be a lot more after tonight’s forecast gale! A quick scrub-up, stewed, and made into a pie (sadly, bought pastry – I can’t make puff!) and a couple of turnovers put in the freezer.
The long branches of Etoile d’Hollande reaching three or four foot above the rose arch were catching today’s gusty wind. I lost a previous rose arch in similar weather, so it was out with the long-handled pruners and a (very overdue) trim all round. The couple of rosebuds still on the plant have been stuck in a vase indoors – more may appear, though the leaves are now turning yellow and I don’t think it will be one of the years it flowers until November.
A rather chilly Equinox morning reminded me that it’s time to take cuttings from the scented geranium to over-winter indoors. Sadly, I’ve been away a lot, and watering and feeding have been erratic, so there weren’t many decent shoots for cuttings … still, hopefully one of these will take root and survive to go in the pot next year.
The first home-grown pear of the year, glowing golden in the early-evening sunshine. It’s a Deacon’s pear, an eater rather than a cooker: they only keep for about 48 hours once they’re ripe. So that’s the fruit course at supper time settled, then.
A couple of windfall apples from the Worcester Pearmain, and I picked another couple to go with them The first apples-and-custard of the autumn.
While hanging the washing out this morning, I heard a nasty noise coming from the pond pump. Investigation showed the pond was less than a third full! I suspect “someone” (possibly the ginger stray that I feed) has faillen in, and clawed a hole in the liner trying to get out.
No hope of seeing what/where in the present condition! I normally clear up the pond and wildflower bank in September, to make sure everything has had a chance to shed its seed, but clearly the pond had to be done in advance … I’ve topped up the pond, so that if there’s a leak the water will subside over the next day or two to “leak level”, which ought to make it easier to find any damage, and done a rough clearout of spreading mimulus, invasive grasses, and suchlike, and made the “fallen animal escape ramp” a bit more visible.
As everything was below ankle level, my back is now protesting, and I foresee an evening of lying flat on the bed.
In other news, the fruit on the Deacon’s Pear is now so heavy that it’s pulling the tree away from the fence. Temporary propping up, and pruning of the heaviest of this year’s growth, have at least partly remedied the situation, thouhg I think I’ll have to get girder clips and run wires so it can be actually secured upright.
The first flowers on the cyclamen hederifolium have emerged (despite rather severe disturbance to them last week when I dug out assorted invasive things like couch grass). Always a pleasing sight.
The “Grandpa Ott” morning glory has opened its first flower of the year – much later than usual, but a delight to see.
The first home-grown tomato of the year: an unknown orange plum variety (originally from a fruit I was given by the Transition Worcester Community Garden a few years ago and have saved seed year to year). I’ll have it with an ostrich-burger and green salad. The Black Russian tomatoes are very nearly ripe, as well.
Showery weather, though the predicted thunderstorms have not (yet) materialised. In one sunny spell I managed an hour in the garden, planting out broccoli, cavolo nero, and kale seedlings. The broccoli and kale are snug under the larger square pop-up mesh tents, but the cavolo nero will have to take its chances as I’ve no more pop-ups, though I’ve fenced it off with large mesh to stop rooting badgers and pooing cats. Elsewhere, the first of the orange tomatoes is nearly ripe, so something to look forward to.
