Here in Bishop’s Castle the rainy weather continues as we head towards the autumn equinox. Just now it’s pouring steadily, threatening to dampen spirits for today’s Michaelmas Fair. This is always a hugely jolly affair of stalls, parades, Chinese dragons, steam engines, vintage vehicles and street performances – assorted bands, Morris dancers, a jester from Chester, the singing farmer, to name but a few of the events. And then the whole thing is rounded off mid-evening with a magical lantern procession through the town (the lanterns made by children). All very much dependent of weatherly cooperation. But then I’m sure, this being the Castle, everyone will make the best of it, brollies and waterproofs at the ready.
Definitely not a day for gardening though. Also as the season winds down, it’s hard not a feel a touch dispirited by the ongoing sogginess. The few roses on their second flowering don’t like it much either. But come hell or high water, to say nothing of last winter’s three solid weeks of snow and frost, the little pansies, viola magnifico [1] above still soldier on. This plant has been flowering continuously for twelve months.
And talking of pansies, what is it that nibbles the yellow ones? And is it the same thing that bites off the buds from my only lupin whenever it tries to flower?
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The Cosmos [2]doesn’t mind the weather either. In fact it seems to be having a new lease of life, and I’m enjoying the drifty looks of it, its stems hanging in raindrops.
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The Japanese ‘Uchiki Kuri’ squash [3] plants weren’t as productive as I’d expected, and I had high hopes of some later planted plants. They’ve produced a couple of tiny ones, and I’ve nipped off extraneous shoots, but I think it’s probably too late for them now.
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The borlotti bean crop [4] is looking more promising. I picked all the dwarf variety some weeks ago, but the climbing ones are just beginning to dry in their pods. I love them for their looks alone, though they’re pretty good in the pot too.
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Despite my weather whingeing, the garden is still looking colourful. The rudbeckia and Michaelmas daisies certainly brighten the place up. There are also still some sunflowers at the bottom of the garden, and my two very small crab apples trees [5], Evereste and Jelly King are looking their vibrant best.
This miniature Evereste is in a corten steel raised bed, along with some origano Kent Beauty, and Santolina. Silvery Artemesia Powis Castle behind.
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Jelly King is lighting up the furthest corner of the garden. I’m not sure I want to sacrifice the apples to making jelly (perverse I know, considering this is why I chose it). They look so lovely, and in fact, now I have found sources of wild apples (see previous post) I think I will leave them, first for us to look at, and later for the blackbirds.
Finally, here’s one of my newish garden plants that has been so glad of the rain, Persicaria Blackfield [6], red bistort. It really struggled all through the summer, despite my hand watering. But then with the first of the recent showers, it perked up and began to flower. It’s interesting that the drought seemed to have had a miniaturising effect on the whole plant, as if it was making itself small to save itself. I’m hoping it will settle in now and come into its own.
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Six on Saturday Please visit host Jim at Garden Ruminations. He’s been very busy despite the weather.
I love the sound of the Michaelmas Fair, great fun. Whoever is nibbling your yellow pansies they are doing exactly the same here, they must be especially delicious. Lovely persicaria, I’m pleased it has recovered from the drought.
Yellow pansy nibblers, someone must know who they are 🙂
I wouldn’t sacrifice the little apples either, they’re gorgeous. Sorry to hear about the weather possibly spoiling fair plans. Down in southern Germany in my mom’s little village they’ve got theirs this weekend, once every couple of years, and glad to see it’s warm and summerlike down there at least. I’ll be on your time zone just about, a week from now! Will have some fun trading notes and postcards. Be well Tish! Sorry to hear about the soggy garden but surely some dry spells await too, and autumn cleanup has its own merits dunnit?
Good to hear you’ll be over on our side of the Atlantic, Bill. I always love your writings when you’re at your Mom’s. As for our rain, when it kicks off like this in September, it has been known to keep going till March. Not a happy prospect. Happy travels.
Same with us here, re: the rain, but it can go until early July! Keeps us green like the Irish countryside.
What a garden Tish! So beautiful. Mother Nature doesn’t seem to know how to dose out rain in appropriate amounts at the appropriate time. She just wants us to know who’s in charge! I hope the rain stops in time for your festival. If it does, please take pictures and post them.
Thanks, Anne. I’m afraid the rain is continuing, so no fair photos. Which is a great pity. But yes, rain inappropriately dispensed 😉
There’s always next year!
Well, your garden’s looking good, even if the Michaelmas Fair isn’t. Rain has finally arrived here. And how! Is that Noah’s Ark I can see bobbing up the road in the distance?
Thanks, Margaret. And yes, no holding back by the rain gods.
Your haŕd work seems to be paying off regardless of the weather..
Thanks, Beverly.
Sorry can’t help with the nibblers unless it is slugs and snails. Love the apples and the fair sounds wonderful.
Thanks, Rosie.
I like the shape of your Evereste. My Golden Hornet is tall and thin. I wonder if I should prune it in some way? Or just let it do its thing. As for the yellow pansies I wonder if earwigs? And something has stripped the leaves of my new rudbeckias. I just hope they have put down strong roots and will come back next year.
I did think about earwigs after Jim’s enigmatic comment. The Evereste is a nice shape. I bought it by post so didn’t get a chance to choose it for its looks. Apple trees seem to be very amenable to shaping so I would think you could help yours along.
The Michaelmas Fair sounds like a wonderful celebration! The fruits and veggies look delicious, and the flowers and plants look happy from the precipitation. Three solid weeks of snow and frost seems very mild compared with our two- to three-plus solid months of snow and frost. But then we get the extremes here, with four-plus solid summer months of highs in the 24-34C (75-94F) range. Happy autumn, hopefully with many more weeks of pleasant weather for both of us. 🙂
Cheers, Beth. Here’s to pleasant weather. I’m certainly glad we don’t have 3 months of snow. Our winters, over all, seem to be milder and wetter than they once were. I’m still amzed that something that feels as fragile as a pansy can still be smiling after being buried in snow and ice.
I suspect that if you went out after dark and inspected your pansies you’d find the culprit. I doubt you’d feel any better for knowing.
Ooh, how very mysterious of you, Jim.
The garden still looks beautiful, Tish. Nice of you to leave the apples for the birds. 😁
🙂 🙂 🙂
What a shame about the rain for the festival, it sounds such a “jolly” affair. I will keep my fingers crossed for it. Your garden is a pleasure, thank you for sharing. You seem to be getting such extremes of weather now, but the plants, thankfully, like the festival, seem to be soldiering on.
We certainly had a lot of rain yesterday, and it got worse in the evening. Brilliant sun this morning though.
That sun sounds promising for the festival, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. 🤞
Thankfully a little wet stuff finally made it across to our parched lands. You could almost hear the plants sigh in relief!
We were deluged again all last night (this after all day rain), but sun today and the plants all glistening.
Despite the rain, the fair sounds magical – especially the lantern procession!
Yes, it involves the whole town, though I’m thinking this year’s procession was washed out. Yesterday’s showers became torrential downpours last night. And just to rub things in, the weather is perfect today.
What a nuisance the rain can be…
It certainly was. So many folks work so hard to organise the fair. I’m thinking the local hostelleries might have had some good custom though.
I’m sure you have a point there, Tish!
I have to say your title is very appropriate! Despite the rain though I really like your cosmos image and I’m pleased to see them flourishing like that. I hope the Michaelmas Fair isn’t a washout as it sounds like a wonderful community event!
A lovely post. Here we are in drought and hoping for a few soggy days before winter sets in. The gardens are autumn weary. Still, the farmstands are rich in fall crops and our table reflects that wild abundance.
I like that phrase ‘wild abundance’, Michael. Happy Fall!
Those crabapples are amazing! The borlotti beans are such pretty creations.
The Fair sounds wonderful, Tish, what a lovely tradition. Gorgeous flowers and squash too. Hope the cold stays away a bit longer for you.
Thanks, Flavia. Definitely cooler days now, but the Cosmos and Morning Glories are still flowering vigorously. And it has stopped raining for this week at least.
Beautiful!