The showers didn’t deposit much rain last week, but they managed to arrive at just the wrong times, meaning we abandoned some gardening jobs both at home and at the allotment.
There has been enough rain over the last few weeks to turn the landscape green again and, unfortunately, to get the grass and weeds growing too. This means our attention at the allotment is starting to shift towards clearing things up and making plans for next year. Although we did have a rather surprising find.
We also enjoyed another day out, this time to Calke Abbey, where Ruby collected her third stamp for her Pooch Passport
Meanwhile, the hedgehogs and fox — or foxes — are still regular visitors. Feeding time has, however, taken an unexpected turn.
Home Garden
I planted the spring bulbs amongst the perennials in the beds I planted earlier in the year. Now I just have to wait until spring to see what comes up and whether the beds look anything like I have imagined them.
I’ve also planted garlic in a couple of troughs in front of the greenhouse. After a couple of disappointing years growing it at the allotment, I’m hoping it will do better in the garden. Perhaps being closer to the house will mean I remember to give it a little more attention.
As well as harvesting tomatoes from the garden greenhouse we also picked a few chillies.
We are still feeding the hedgehogs and the fox — or foxes — although they now have to compete with the neighbourhood cats. Ruby would also happily tuck in if she was given half a chance.
One particular cat has become a regular visitor. It always seems to appear as soon as I start filling the dishes. It watches from a safe distance and then makes a beeline for the food as soon as my back is turned.
We’re not sure whether it has a home. The first time we saw it, it looked hungry and rather dishevelled. After a few weeks of eating the hedgehog food, though, it seems to have perked up considerably.
I’m not sure that hedgehog food is quite what a cat needs, so I’ve bought some dry cat food for it. I’m hoping it will appreciate the upgrade!
At the Allotment
Martyn started tackling the fast-growing grass but only managed about half of it before a shower sent us heading home.
I finished weeding the strawberry bed and removed another set of runners. It seems that no sooner have I cut them off than they send out more. 
As I worked, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a single red strawberry. I fully expected it to have been nibbled by a slug or, now that the netting has been removed, perhaps a bird. Surprisingly, it was perfect. I could have just popped it into my mouth and Martyn would have been none the wiser, but I selflessly shared it with him.
Martyn lifted the rest of the carrots, which will be stored over winter in potato bags.
We also harvested what is probably our last cauliflower of the season.
We are still harvesting tomatoes from both the garden and allotment greenhouses, along with a few from the plants growing outdoors.
Earlier in the year we were predicting a poor tomato harvest, but in the end they came good. We now have enough tomatoes in the freezer to keep us supplied over winter.
Out and About
Calke Abbey
Last week’s day out was to Calke Abbey — pronounced “Cork” — in Derbyshire.
The house is rather austere and has been nicknamed the “un-stately home”. When the National Trust took over, they decided to preserve it much as they found it rather than restore it to its former glory.
As Ruby was with us, we concentrated on exploring the grounds and started off in the gardens.
The Ice House
From the gardens we headed to the ice house. I’ve seen ice houses at several of these old estates, but they still fascinate me.
The idea was fairly simple: collect ice during the winter and store it underground, where it would hopefully stay frozen for as long as possible. The ice was covered with insulating material and, when needed, pieces were chipped off and taken up to the house.
Standing inside the ice house got me wondering how they actually managed to get the ice from there to the house without it melting, particularly on a hot summer’s day.
I also wondered what happened in a mild winter when the lake didn’t freeze.
Apparently, by the nineteenth century, ice could be transported surprisingly long distances. Norwegian ice was shipped to Britain packed in straw and sawdust. I couldn’t find out whether Calke ever had to buy in ice, but it certainly made me appreciate how much effort must once have gone into keeping food cold.
The Deer
Like many National Trust properties, Calke has a deer park and has had one for centuries.
In 1892 there were apparently 400 fallow deer and 30 red deer living in the park. I don’t know how many there are today, but we spotted both fallow and red deer grazing peacefully.
That peace probably won’t last much longer as the rutting season is about to start. I imagine the deer will soon be rather less interested in peacefully grazing and rather more interested in showing off.
The Grotto
The next thing we came across was the surviving one of two grottoes that were built in the grounds.
Ruby bravely led the way into it, although I’m not sure she would have been quite so brave if the original roof was still there.
The grotto was designed to look like a cave and provided somewhere to shelter from the sun or rain while people were wandering around the grounds.
Originally it had a grass-covered domed roof, with artificial stalactites attached underneath. You can see one of the stalactites in my photo
I think it must have been quite an interesting place to visit.
The Old Man of Calke
After exploring around the house, we decided to follow one of the marked trails and met the Old Man of Calke.
He isn’t actually an old man at all, but an enormous ancient oak tree thought to be about 1,200 years old. That means it started life somewhere around the ninth century, long before England existed as a country.
I couldn’t help wondering what it has seen during all those years.
People have come and gone, the landscape has changed, and countless generations have walked past it. Yet the tree is still standing and, hopefully, will be there for many years to come.
If only it could talk. I suspect it would have some stories to tell.
Finally
So, as summer finally gives way to autumn, we’re gradually swapping harvesting for clearing and thinking about next year.
There are still tomatoes to pick, bulbs to wait for and walks to discover and with Ruby now only two stamps away from her promised pack of treats. I suspect there will be at least a couple more outings before we settle into winter.
As always until next time stay safe and stay well.
