1. Storm-struck
This morning at breakfast time – with a high wind whooshing about the place and rain lashing the kitchen doors, the garden definitely looked a no-go area. I could see three dozen bean canes splayed like pick-up-sticks across the top path by the greenhouse. Drat and double drat. When I dismantled the runner bean rows a week or so ago, I had forgotten to tether them securely to the hedge. I could also see the cosmos at the top of the steps being tossed about. Since late September and the onset of rainy days, it has been flowering magnificently. Now it was having its petals blown off. More curses. And I could see that the Selinum (farthest right at the wall top) which is still flowering as well as seeding, was now rearranged at a 45 degree angle.
Not a happy gardener.
Cosmos unclothed; Helianthus blown away.
And then, quite suddenly, towards midday, the rain stopped and the sun came out, although we still have a mighty blow, with now-and-then gusts that lift you off your feet.
I did a quick tour of the garden, but there was not much to be done mid-gale, apart from attempting a bit of support for the Selinum.
2: Apples
With the wind, I was expecting another heavy crop of windfalls. But when I went out to check the damage, I was pleased to see that most of our remaining apples are still clinging sturdily to their stalks. Which is good news as I already had a stack of windfalls in the kitchen. And there’s only so much apple sauce we can eat, and all the neighbours are overwhelmed with apples too and putting them out at their gates for anyone to take. However, I recently discovered an easy apple chilli chutney recipe, and so, as gardening was out, this was what happened next.
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3. In love with Michaelmas daisies
I’m not expecting the late flowering flowers to survive the wind, but that won’t include the Michaelmas daisies (Symphyotrichums/Asters whatever they’re called these days). I took this photo with the wind still blowing. Only a couple of small side stems damaged.
Its neighbour, a compact little variety (I think it could be Purple Dome) has only just decided to flower:
And at the bottom of the garden this tall white bushy version, White Ladies maybe, and…
…Aster x frikatii Monch have been flowering since the hot days of summer:
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4. Great Dixter Nursery
And so like Jim, I’ve been doing some plant buying. I have recently discovered that Great Dixter House and Gardens has an online plant shop. They sell some very lovely plants (1 and 2 litre sizes) at very reasonable prices. That’s where I found Patrinia as featured in an earlier SoS. And it’s where I also found ‘Symphyotrichum Les Moutiers’ which is now planted in my front garden. We’ll have to wait nearly a year before we see it in action though. Do give the link a quick look.
5. Ongoing edibles
The salad stuff hasn’t been troubled by the unruly weather. The radicchio and endive, rocket, land cress, and Moroccan Cress lettuce are presently thriving, though everything has to be netted against pigeons.
We also have some Swiss chard, beetroot, parsnips and leeks, and a new bed of winter greens (planted out on the runner and borlotti bean bed) is looking quite good. And there are still a few climbing borlotti beans to pick in the side-garden wall bed.
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6. A happy face
Now as I’m writing this, the rain is back and the wind is still blowing. So I’m finishing off with another garden stalwart. I was so pleased to find this marigold looking so fresh-faced as I went round the garden late-morning. Of course, we eat these too. Perhaps I shouldn’t mention that though.
Happy gardening folks – whatever your weather. Even on distinctly unpromising days, there’s usually something in the garden to be glad about.
copyright 2025 Tish Farrell
Six On Saturday Please catch up with Jim at Garden Ruminations.
Apple chilli jam sounds interesting, Tish. Autumn hasn’t arrived here yet but the days are getting shorter xx
Yes, shorter days and dark mornings, the front path a heap of leaves. I think autumn has definitely arrived here.
Well we have to take the bad with the good in the garden when the winds and rain come..we need both but is smaller doses maybe…..Lulu the momma cat decided to have her babies in the bed under the sweet olive tree..Which was fine until a down pour came..Bless their little selves they looked ever much like drowned mice..Once the rain stopped I got the dried off and in a box on the back porch..took momma a while to fine them but everyone is happy now. They (4 of them) have just begun to open their eyes and os course are just cute kitties. Now I didn’t especially need more cats but it is what it is.Cats seem to feel protected here. Note: the birds aren’t..I see very few and do miss them.
Kittens in a storm, that’s quite a picture, Beverly. Well done on the rescuing.
What a wonderful post on the vitality and tenacity of your garden. It looks wonderful.
Thank you, Anne. I used to be a bit sniffy about Michaelmas daisies, not liking them at all. Some varieties can go on the rampage, rooting wildly if you don’t watch out. Funny how one changes one’s mind over some things…
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Lovely Michaelmas daisies, I must add some to my garden.
Anything that is prepared to do some proper flowering in October gets my vote. Well, almost anything 😉
Oh dear what difficult and changeable weather conditions you and your garden have to contend with Tish. But the garden is a testimony to your hard work and dedication.
I guess one learns to better prepared. I’m not very good at staking things, tending to hope for the best.
Those fickle autumn days try to trick us but look at those stunning daisies! 🌸
Full-on flowers 🙂
I kept telling myself ‘rain is good, rain is good’ yesterday!
And you were right, Becky. The garden looks just fine this morning, or the bits of it I’ve looked at.
This is like nature striking the theater set, I love it! Drat and double drat. Windswept and fall-like here in eastern France too. Some brief cameos of summer but it’s more a curtain call.
Bonjour, Bill. I’ve been captivated by your recent posts. That Himmelsleiter climb! Sort of makes my knees ache. And yes a theatre set – my garden, your steps, the decomposing vines; there’s some sense of loss in it, which also has some element of theatre about it. Envying your safari, though wondering, too, why we can’t be bothered to go see Europe for ourselves. All the better for travelling with you vicariously…
Oh hey I know about that “why can’t we go ourselves” feeling that’s so common innit? I remember meeting some Scots in Oban who were much older than us, telling them all the places we’d been in their own country they’d never seen. Funny that isn’t it? Its own kind of loss too if you care to be bleak about it…wish you were here! We are playing songs from the 70s, Wings, ELO, I guess you are here in a sense! “Do me a favor, let ‘em in…”
Hey, yes, songs of the 70s – love that I’m almost with you. Been meaning to say re your Nick Drake mentions, his sister Gabrielle lives in Much Wenlock, in the medieval Prior’s House that adjoins the priory ruins. Also the place where Henry James stayed inspiring some elements in Turn of Screw. Thought you’d like those weird ‘connections’.
Oh wow! I read about Gabrielle in a book about him, so hard and sad for her and her family. Such a tragic figure that one; I hope he is smiling in some part of the universe at the thought of how much people love his music now though. Better late than never? Thank you for sharing that. It’s Nick season for sure.
I liked reading your post . It told us so much that is happening in your world. Apple chilli chutney sounds delicious.
Thank you, Lakshmi.
I love virtual wander abut your garden. I’m pleased to see you still have plenty to be happy about despite the weather..
Happy you could come for a wander. Hope you were well wrapped up 🙂 🙂
😄😀 virtually snug!
Even down here in London we were caught by Amy – relentless rain on Friday, strong gusts of wind but sunny on Saturday, and still quite breezy today. I hope you find your pretty garden relatively unscathed.
Thanks, Sarah. It seems to be holding its own, though as with you, still windy.
Seems we are having the same weather. Typical spring weather for us just as the blooms want to share their glory with us.
Ever a challenge one way or another – the weather, that is 🙂
Great shot!
Thank you.
We are also experiencing rain and fierce winds making it difficult to get the rest of my irises bulbs transplanted. The cosmos defrocking is insult to injury. My condolences.
We’ve had more peaceful days since the storm, and the Cosmos have come back in force – definitely well frocked 🙂