Time off

My last week at Heale we were tidying up the riverbank, cutting back Irises and cleaning Bamboo. We stored the Cucamelon roots in the hope of revitalizing them next season. The colours of the leaves in the garden are stunning at this time of year and we are lucky to be in such a peaceful place to work.

But this week, I have had a break from gardening and time to play with my boys who are on half term. I have enjoyed being warm and not rushing! I have been lucky enough to be getting out and about so I haven't missed the great outdoors too much.

A different type of great outdoors though. This weekend I re-visited the Olympic Park, my second visit since 2012. What a change to that area of London, 2 or 3 stops on the train from where I used to live is Stratford station and Westfield, a huge buzzing shopping centre. Not only is it commercialism though, it leads you through to the Olympic sized space of trees, planting, playgrounds, cycle tracks and giant sculptures of crayons in the river. Even in the shopping centre (which in part is open to the elements) are trees with birds singing at dusk, flitting from tree to tree.

Once you enter the Olympic park, the space is immense as is the sky (which, as my friend pointed out, is rare in London to see so much uninterrupted sky). The planting is superb, mature pine trees making playgrounds seem like they have been established for years, grass borders which conjure up seaside boardwalks not city pavements. Not just lawns and verges but slopes to climb, short grass, wild grass, clovers, seating nestled in borders, Vinca and Ivy clinging as ground cover. The space allows you to breathe and be inspired. We made it into the Velodrome and viewed the Aquatic centre, two buildings which are beautiful and fluid in their design.

I was with a family of 5 city dwellers and really noticed how much they appreciated this space and planting. They all said they felt the space safe for their kids and relaxing for them and I think the planting has a lot to do with that. Not formal beds which are untouchable but plants to feel, to walk through, to hide in. Walkways with textures, activities, mirrors on bridges, reflections, water and sky. All a stones throw from town. A real treat.

Autumnal planning

Now is the time we all get to take a breather for a moment, just a moment and think about what the year has just done for us and what we want to do next year. Not too much time though - plenty to do.

I have been with my client transplanting and potting up, sowing some hardy Annuals (Ammi, Orlaya, Cornflower) and dodging incredibly heavy rain. I planted a beautiful Eleagnus for her too, x ebbingei, with silvery leaves.

At Heale we got up to all sorts, removing an Apple tree with a winch, ride on mowing, lifting tree canopies, weeding and edging veg plots, potting up, feeding.... we also managed our one experimental 'no dig' bed. Last year we used the newly made bed for Brassicas and failed but not because of the no dig system (must I mention the darn Bank Voles again!). This time we are covering the soil with a 3 inch compost mulch and covering it to let the worms and weather do their thing.

If you want to have a go then read the enthusiastic  Charles Dowding here:

http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/no-dig-growing/why-no-dig/

The owners at Heale would like us to move on further and create more no dig beds. I am all for it (less double digging) but also quite like the rituals of preparing the beds in the traditional way. A bit of both and we shall see which system reigns supreme.

Having really loved our first try at Cucamelons, we are going to try and store the dahlia-like tubers over winter and hope for bigger stronger plants next season. Considering we grew the little mouse melons from seed this February, they have grown a really big tuber!

Leaves are turning everywhere but particularly noticeable are the trees in the Japanese garden, Liquidamber being one of the ones that seems to turn it's colour in the blink of an eye.

The Cercidiphyllum japonicum is mighty fine this time of year and it's little cousin Cercidiphyllum japonicum f. 'Pendulum' is a small plant near the Japanese bridge but I could smell the delicate and faint smell of sugar and butter and caramel from the only 10 leaves that were clinging on for dear life. Amazing!

All about the veg

My gardening week has been heavily focused on the veg.

I have planted out Kale at my own allotment and snuffled out the last of my Cukes and Courgettes. I have spent time in three of my gardens, clearing away old crops and planting out some late sowings of Salad and Spinach.

At Heale, although I only work two days, I get an input into the veg garden, glorious potager style plots and have been discussing next years veg plans with HG. Our veg plots combine cut flowers with veg and herbs alongside ornamental Gourds and Climbing Ipomoea. On the whole, Heale remains traditional in its veg choices with the odd Cucamelon thrown in. We are hoping to persuade the owners to head for some different varieties next year, based on our successes and failures from this year.

We struggled to produce Brasscias this year mainly due to a huge influx of Bank Voles who consumed everything with gusto. Our Beans were amazing but we weren't too impressed by our Broad Beans so would like to try some new varieties such as Karmazyn - a heritage Bean, pink in colour.

We have been given some seeds, sent in by some lovely visitors whom we chatted to this Summer. They have forwarded seed collected from their own veg garden, a real treat; Pea Beans and Black Runners ('Churchfield').

I love this planning stage, so much to choose from, always difficult to stop marking the little veg catalogues with an asterisk and not buy too much!

Working in the plots this week, we cleared all of our Beans away for the compost and found the most bright pink Beans, think Firestorm or Stardust. Amazing colour.

We are still cropping Carrot, Beet, Salad, Pak Choi, Rocket and of course fruit, mainly Apples and Pears.

The light and warmth this week have been gorgeous and have allowed for a late sowing or two and some planting out. The soil is perfectly warm.

 Lots to see in the gardens before we close. Autumnal colours everywhere, we spotted these amazing black tree peony seeds bursting from their pod and a Euonymus which looks just delightful in late afternoon dappled light.

 I also love the brash Gunnera manicata, in your face, no hiding from it, it towers above everything else and gives such structure. I caught these leaves looking mottled with yellow, hanging out in the Japanese garden.