Digging and peace and quiet

It has been half term and back at Houghton Lodge this week it has been blissfully peaceful with wonderful Autumnal colours wherever you are. The trees down by the pond and river are a mix of oranges, reds and yellows, wonderful London Plane and Beech.

Apple collecting is still happening and many leaves are being composted too. We used the great big BillyGoat machine to clear leaves a bit yesterday, trundling along sucking up everything in its path like a giant hoover.

Priority is still Spring bedding so when the rain stopped Andrew and I managed to dig and plant up two BIG raised beds into patterns of Daffs and Hyacinths, blue and white. We dug out lots of old bulbs, hairy white roots spraying all over the place and washed and kept some for re-use. Once we had dug the soil out onto tarpaulin, we sprinkled Bonemeal onto the soil to encourage good growth and then put our bulbs in place. A diamond in one and swirls in another. The we replaced the soil. Lots of work but really great to get it done (what do you think Andrew?).

Yesterday Lesley was at work (our Volunteer) so we worked together to remove some overgrown roses at the veranda beds, the red hips growing into the veranda glass roof! We had previously taken and sown some of the seeds from the hips, Emma Wright being one of them, so we may still have saved some if they are successful. We also cleared some of the left over summer bedding Salvia and Cineraria and tidied the beds a bit ready for Tulips.

Really enjoying being outdoors in this weather there is so much to see, Buzzards flying about and the river. Gardening certainly makes you more aware of your surroundings.