As the daylight hours shorten, there is now no denying that summer is winding down.
Our thoughts in both the garden and allotment have started to turn towards next year, and the amount of time we spend at the allotment is gradually decreasing.
We’re hoping that winter doesn’t nudge forward too soon, though, as we still have a few more days out planned to collect stamps for Ruby’s Pooch Passport.
The hedgehogs continue to make their nightly visits, and the fox — or possibly foxes — also turns up on some evenings. They are all welcome, although some rather less welcome visitors have discovered the food and seem determined to eat it before the intended diners arrive.
Home Garden
We bought some more bulbs to plant in the new borders. I’m hoping I can squeeze them into the gaps between the perennials without everything becoming too overcrowded. It will be interesting to see how the borders develop next spring when the bulbs emerge.
I also bought a couple of garlic bulbs. Rather than planting them at the allotment, I’m going to try them in troughs in the garden. After a couple of disappointing years, I’m hoping they will do better this time around. Perhaps being closer to home will mean they get a little more attention — although whether that will actually make a difference remains to be seen
The greenhouse is continuing to keep us supplied with tomatoes and peppers, some of which are now making their way into the freezer and others being used for lunch.
The hedgehogs still visit most night and the fox on some nights. Unfortunately, a particularly fat cat has discovered the hedgehog food and seems to have decided that it is there specifically for it. The poor hedgehogs sometimes arrive to an empty bowl. I’m going to have to come up with some sort of deterrent that will keep the cat away without stopping the hedgehogs and fox from getting to their supper.
At the Allotment
Visits to the allotment basically follow the same pattern these days.
Beds are being cleared and prepared for next year. Last week the sweetcorn was cut down and Martyn dug over one of the beds.
The recent rain has also triggered the weeds into growth. I started weeding the new strawberry bed. Although the weeds are still small, I don’t want them to get a foothold — or is roothold more appropriate for weeds?
One variety of carrots, ‘Romance’, has been lifted and brought home for storage.
We also gathered a small harvest, including a butternut squash that obviously thought it had managed to escape our attention when we missed it on the previous visit. It was hiding away amongst the foliage, but eventually we spotted it.
Out and About
Temple Newsam
We had an afternoon walk at Temple Newsam, although we had to deviate from our usual route. In preparation for a garden redesign, several areas, including the lawns, had been treated with weedkiller and had turned blue, so we needed to keep Ruby well away.
As we headed home, we were treated to a scene that was very reminiscent of Clarkson’s Farm. The road from Temple Newsam was blocked as a herd of cows were being herded across the road.
The cows were distinctly reluctant to cooperate. There were almost as many people running around and flapping their arms as there were cows, and for a while it looked as though the cows were very much in charge of the situation.
Eventually, after about twenty minutes, the herd decided they had had enough fun and proceeded across the road.
Belton Estate
We finally managed a day out last week. We decided on the Belton Estate, as the forecast suggested it was probably one of the better places to visit if we wanted to avoid the rain showers.
We were very lucky when we arrived, as a group of fallow deer stags were browsing in the area alongside the car park.
Male and female fallow deer tend to live in separate groups outside the rutting season, so seeing a group of stags together was a lovely start to our visit.
We noticed three different colour variations amongst the deer, including one particularly striking black stag. I think fallow deer are probably the most handsome of our native deer, and these certainly gave us plenty of time to admire and photograph them.
There are around 300 fallow deer at Belton, all descended from deer introduced to the estate in the 17th century.
After spending some time watching the deer, and having lunch, we headed towards the house and gardens.
It is said that the perfect symmetry of Belton House inspired the road sign indicating a stately home. I checked the sign and can see some resemblance to the central part of the house. Whether that was actually the inspiration, I’ll leave you to decide!
As we wandered around the gardens, we spotted several pineapple designs. Pineapples feature quite prominently at Belton, and there is a reason for this.
The glasshouse was created to grow pineapples, which were once a symbol of wealth and status. They were so prized that hosts would sometimes hire a pineapple to use as a centrepiece on the dining table — to be admired rather than eaten!
The pineapple was also regarded as a symbol of welcome to travellers and visitors, which seems rather appropriate nowadays for a visitor attraction.
After exploring the gardens, we set off on a lakeside walk along the wooded pathways. Following the correct route was largely a matter of guesswork, and at one point we realised that we had somehow managed to walk in a complete circle.
Fortunately, we eventually found our way back to the main garden.
Ruby now has two stamps in her Pooch Passport, so there are only three more to collect before she earns herself a pack of treats.
Finally
Summer may be drawing to a close, but there are still signs that the season isn’t quite ready to give up. The greenhouse is still producing, we are preparingthe garden for next spring, and the allotment is gradually being cleared.
And then there are the walks and days out. With three more stamps to find for Ruby, we have more visits planned before winter takes hold.
The hedgehogs have still time to fatten up before they need to hibernate.
For now, we’ll enjoy whatever remains of the lighter evenings — and hope that winter remembers that it is still needs to wait its turn.
Don’t forget to pop across to Martyn’s diary page Martyn’s diary page
As always until next time stay safe and stay well
