Woof?

Woof!

copyright 2008 Y.E.W. Heuzen

This and That

This post certainly is a bit of this and that and the other, quite a mixed bunch in fact, just like on the pic above which shows part of what I've harvested lately. The tomatoes are almost finished now but fortunately there is more to look forward too like
grapes,
pumpkins,
apples,
and wild strawberries.
They may be small but they cause quite a taste explosion in your mouth. They are the strawberriest of strawberries ever!

But it's not all fun and games here at Bliss, there is also a lot of hard work to do. Here's Jeeves's not so subtle hint that I've got a spot of weeding that needs to be done.
Thanks for pointing that out Jeeves! ;-)

I haven't been able to blog much lately because of all the work that needed to be done in the garden. Recently all the conifer hedges (all 80 meters of them) were cut. The under-gardener did all the cutting but guess who ended up clearing all the hedge trimmings away? That's right, moi! Fortunately I'd bought a few big bags recently to put all the trimmings in.
They are ever so handy as you can fold them away when you don't use them so they don't take up much space.
My project of putting gravel underneath the hedges round the potager is almost finished, just one more hedge to do.
Here are Vita (R) and Dolly pointing out another eyesore in the garden. Well, a former eyesore that is, because it's gone now. This is what it looks like as of yesterday.
Now we have ample access to the patio area, before it was such a narrow space to manoeuvre in, courtesy of the former owners.
I've just started work on the new flower bed next to the new paved area in front of the decking. It will look great once it's finished and all the plants are in.For the last 2 months I've been painting the conservatory in between all that rain we'd been having. It's been rather a slow job thanks to the many showers, but I'm nearly there.
Just 2 more window frames to paint and I'm done.
Well, on the outside that is. The inside is quite a different story altogether. There I still have to get rid off all that brown paint. Never mind, it will give me something to do in October otherwise I might get bored.:-)

After all that hard graft it's time for some fun again, after all we at Bliss have a reputation to keep up. Even though it's getting towards the end of September the garden is still full of flowers and there are quite enough to make a nice flower arrangement or two. This is what I bunged together last weekend;
and here is another one, quite cheerful and sunny, don't you think?
copyright 2008 Y.E.W. Heuzen

You want an easy hobby, try line dancing. In gardening, there are going to be certain projects that are physically taxing. Gardening is more difficult than surfing and scuba diving, yet, curiously, ranks dead even with fly-fishing at the highest level.
The Renegade Gardener

Bloomful September Bliss

Rosa Calypso

It's half September and officially not even Autumn yet but it seems that this year we've skipped Summer altogether and moved straight into Autumn. Except for one week when I was on holiday in my own country, and the odd day here and there we have had no Summer to speak of. Very disappointing as Summer is the only time that we, who live in North-Western Europe, can enjoy being outside. The rest of the year we stay cooped up inside because it's too cold or too wet, usually both.
Clematis Gypsy Girl flowering for the second time

As I said it's half September so time, once again, for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, a special event in which so many garden bloggers all over the world participate by showing what's in bloom in their garden today. It's Carol of MayDreamsGardens who dreamed this all up.
Astrantia Major Rosea, second flush

I haven't participated in the Summer edition of GBBD (simply too much to show and not enough time) but today I decided to show what's in bloom in my garden this September.
Balsam
Kitchen garden with Marigolds, Zinnias, Borage in white and blue and Nasturtiums

I won't show everything that's in flower as that would take far too long, but instead I'll show you an impression or two of what's in flower now.

My new border is coming along nicely and it has added considerably to my bloom list, even after such a wet and cold Summer. And cold it really is. Last Saturday the central heating popped on as it was so cold and it's not even Autumn yet.
New border with Verbena bonariensis, Daisies, Balsam, white Borage and pink Hydrangea
Hydrangea Lime Light
New border with Cosmea, Gaura, Borage, bronze Fennel, Verbena bonariensis and Eupatorium
Rosa Dainty Bess, one of the stars in my new border
Hydrangea Brussels Lace
Rosa Fisherman's Friend, a David Austin rose with an incredible scent
Zinnia, one of many

It's thanks to Kylee of Our Little Acre and Robin of Robin's Nesting Place that I decided earlier this year to try my hand at growing Zinnias and they've been a great success so far. I've raised them from seed and they've been flowering their hearts out for months now. Thanks Kylee and Robin for inspiring me to grow them!
Sweet Pea

Another success are my gorgeous deep purple sweet peas, which I've also sown myself, just like these pretty bells, that are another first in my garden this year.
I had bought a packet of blue Cobaea scandens last February but to my surprise there are whites ones growing amongst the blue. Isn't gardening just full of nice surprises?
The Hollyhocks decided to do a spot of self sowing, always fine in my garden, but for some odd reason this year only the burgundy coloured ones are in flower of the blacks there's no sign whatsoever. Pity, I love black Hollyhocks. Isn't gardening just full of not so nice surprises too? ;-)

Another success in the garden is this pot with beautiful Lobelia erinus which is neither raised from seed by my own fair hands nor self sown, but simply self bought in the supermarket. It's been flowering nonstop from May onwards.
The Phloxes have been doing great this year, they seem to thrive with all that rain we've been having this Summer.
I think I have delighted you long enough and will leave you with something sweet
Chocolate Cosmea, its scent is simply scrumptious

copyright 2008 Y.E.W. Heuzen

What a delightful tie, fondness for gardening makes between people! I know several men with beautiful places and lovely gardens. Whenever I meet one of them at dinner, if by chance I am not seated next to him, I am unhappy.
Helena Rutherfurd Ely, A Woman's Hardy Garden, 1903

September Garden

It's early September and the days are getting decidedly shorter. Not all that long ago it got dark at half past 10 but now, on a rainy day, at half past 8 already. It's getting nippier too and misty in the early morning. A zillion spiders are weaving their webs in the garden catching diamonds at dawn.
In the kitchen garden there is so much to harvest still and I have sown some more lettuce and radishes this week.
Did you notice the broccoli in flower, those big stalks of yellow flowers? At one time I had broccoli coming out of my ears so I let it flower; there's less to eat that way but more candy for the eye. :-)
I got pretty fed up with all those weeds growing underneath the hedges and I decided to make life very difficult for them by putting a thick layer of gravel underneath. That will teach them and it looks very nice too.

I'm chuffed to bits with my new border, less than 4 months ago this was just a bit of lawn; a long stretch of dull green snore fest and look at it now.
Here's Jeeves admiring the new border. Jeeves: Wow, what a nice big kitty toilet with all that nice loose earth and it is so nicely done up with flowers and stuff.
Of course, being brand spanking new means that there are still some bare patches in the new border but time will sort that out.
I'm also very pleased with the way my terrace has turned out with the pergola above it.
Grapes growing above your head so that when you've finished lunch or diner you can lazily reach up and pick a bunch, still warm from the sun, and pop the grapes in your mouth one by one. If that isn't the height of decadence then I don't know what is. Yes, I lead a very sheltered life, thank you for asking.
And it wouldn't be only grapes above your head as you can see here, that Jeeves is simply everywhere in the garden. Following me around like a sweet little puppydog, erm, kittycat.
This is the view from the terrace and it's such a nice view now that the new border is there. Don't underestimate the importance of having a terrace with a view!
My shady corner is getting quite autumnal already with all those fallen leaves there. And of course Jeeves had to sniff out said leaves when I took this pic.
It's actually getting quite hard to take a pic in the garden and not have Jeeves in it. :-)

Last week some people from my village came to see if Jeeves was their lost kitty Tommy. Their cat had run off about a week before Jeeves appeared, thin as a rake, in my garden. So it was entirely possibly that Jeeves was their lost black and white boy, but unfortunately it was not the case. Such a disappointment for all parties concerned. I do so hope that I will be able to find Jeeves's people, if he has any that is. If not, I will try to find him a good home with people who'd really appreciate such a sweet loving little bundle of purry fur.
In the mean time I've made him a bed in the greenhouse so that he's nice and cosy when it's nippy outside during the night. And he loves it so much that he's even often there during the day, purring away for queen and country.

copyright 2008 Y.E.W. Heuzen


O sweet September, the first breezes bring
The dry leaf's rustle and the squirrel's laughter
The cool fresh air whence health and vigour spring
And promise of exceeding joy hereafter.
Anonymous