Did I miss winter ?

The Apples are flowering


Asparagus is shooting.



Shows you how cold summer has been if plants get fooled by a few warm days.

 

If you missed Winter, I've got one due here I can send - just let me know

I could use an early Spring if you can spare one.

 

One Spring coming right up:D



This is one I made earlier:D

 

several huechera that I have planted are flowering now? (2 months late?) ... I think we will have a really bitter cold winter or a very warm winter i.e. it will not be a normal winter and will be extreme one way or the other ...

something is definately not right ... people from the US and canada are also reporting very strange things happening in their gardens

 

Even though it's not been wall to wall sunshine here it has been very mild and today I've noticed butterflies in the garden; Red Admirals, Peacocks and Speckled Woods, also several bees, wasps and hoverflies, ladybirds still knocking about too.

I have a Fuchsia thalia looking better now than at any time this year and I should be looking at packing it away for the winter.

I have several other flowers still going very strong and the grass is looking lush and green for the first time this year :D.

I have raspberries to harvest again on my "early" variety and a second smaller batch of strawberries too!!!

 

My bet is another harsh winter that arrives very suddenly, like last year. My reasoning for this prediction is that the trees are already shedding their leaves big time, even though it is still quite warm here. Last year they hung on for a bit and got caught off guard. They're not making the same mistake again this year. They're getting themselves ready for bed.

People in the US always report strange things. I believe they have a bit of a problem with alien abduction over there.

 

While our trees have lost most of their leaves here, my garden is still in bloom. I can't believe how long my annuals have held on this year, normally long gone by this time, antirrhinums, nicotiana etc.

Also the lawns have usually had their last cut by the first week in October......not this year! I bet we get our first frost by the end of next week.

 

I have this forescast for next week - Night 4 °C - and that's in the closest town, not my open countryside frost pocket.

 

Hi again from Mrs Chopper, not been on for a while , very busy in the garden and plot.

I have to say I am a little concerned as the Alium I planted only two weeks ago ... as recommended.... are all out of the ground now. I can't help feeling they will be damaged in the winter when it comes .. or are they very hardy?

Mrs Chopper

 

in one garden I planted 2 japanese maples a few months ago (just before the big winds)

these are planted in the correct positions (semi-shade and semi protected from wind)

a few weeks later, the big winds arrived, maples leaves started turning brown on the edges, then eventually fell off

I have watered regulary and am hoping for the best ...

had a look yesterday, and sadly, both maples have now got unopened buds ... I have a feeling that the 1st cold spell will finish them off for good?

I bought them from a large garden centre that offers a 1yr guarantee, but would prefer if they grow normally, instead of taking them back in late spring

 

Dim, I would say the last thing you want is those maples to break them buds at this time of the year.
They will be the dormant winter buds that will open, (hopefully), next spring.
If they opened now they would get killed stone dead at the first frost and you would get massive die back.
Well thats how I see it.

I think the dry weather along with insect damage is the usual reason for early leaf loss on established trees, having said that most trees around here are still fully covered, and colouring up nicely.

 

Hey Mrs C,

Onion family will just stop growing when the cold comes. Have found some blubbing onions that I left in have started to grow again in the warm, will have them out & eat them.

 

My January King have bolted!:gaagh: I'm not happy

 

No such luck down here Pete, have a look at the trees in the back of the field, all gone dry & mostly falling, not much in the way of Autumn colours.:(

 

Any excuse to show off that pumpkin.:D