Off The Edge Gardening

A yellow rose, and its not in Texas.

This burnt toffee tagetes is a welcome interloper, emerging from a packet of Naughty Marietta seed.  She was supposed to be a blonde but turned out to be a brunette.  More Liz than Marilyn.  I’m not complaining, in the low autumn sunshine she is a real beauty.  She was naughtier than we imagined.  I do love a rogue.

This is just one of the myriad of individual flowers covering the elegant spikes of Verbascum chaxii.  Beautiful in entirety, wonderful in isolation.

The first truly chilly start of the season.  It began with drive through retina-melting low sun interspersed with patches of clichéd moorland mist.  On arrival at Lionel and Lavinia’s I was surprised by the forgotten feeling of early morning cold and damp.  Coats were scrambled for, shoulders slightly hunched, work the antidote to dankness.  Shrubs were draped with cauls of gossamer, lawns diamond studded.  Then the promised warmth slowly unwrapped us, first jackets, then fleece were stripped.  Finally sleeves were pushed up and brows wiped.  On cue the speciality of the house was welcomed, reviving Mexican lime cordial, previous shivers all but forgotten.

As you can see the infamous Pasty Pinching Pony Posse are finally behind bars, which is just where they belong.  Earlier this week one of these marauding bandits went into Slasher Sean’s bag and helped themselves to his cheese and onion pasty.   To add insult to injury they then squashed his banana.  At the time SS was distracted, he was probably polishing his chainsaw, and only caught sight of the villains making a hasty retreat.  So who actually performed the dastardly deed?  Was it Pippy the Kid who raided the rucksack?  He may be babyfaced but it is reported that he led the great breakout of 2015.  Could it have been Wild Tiny Hickok?  Do not be fooled by his small stature and youthful good looks, he is a demon in minature.  Or perhaps it was the old timer Quickdraw McMuffin?  A master in deception, with years of experience in criminal activities.  The trial continues …….

Another physically demanding day at Max’s house.  The first task of the day was to relocate the contents of two large plastic compost bins full of bone-dry partially digested vegetation.  We then took turns in wheel barrowing this potential soil improver up the north face of the Eiger to the new composting area.   On my part there was much huffing and puffing on my journey upwards with the odd dramatic slip, slide and boot spin.  Undigested roots and twigs were sorted out to act as first class kindling on the bonfire at a later date.  I wondered why the trug never got full.  Then I realised that as I put the sticks in, helpful Max was taking them out again.

The second task was to dig up a chaenomeles.  Sounds simple.  In fact it turned out to be a monumental task involving spades, forks, trowels, pruning saw, mega choppers and an axe.  And two very able workers.   There were a few bad words but plenty of laughter and we ended the day with all body parts intact.   It was a puzzle and we solved it.  In the process we made a very big hole, or meteorite crater as we like to call it.  Max knew to stay well away.

Yes, I’m afraid it has happened again.  I am not proud.  It was not mine to eat.  You must understand that this golden raspberry was so alluring and I am so weak.  Delicious, in case you wondered.

My new boots arrived today.   I love them.  Good boots are an integral part of the gardener’s kit.  They increase the Happiness Factor tenfold.  These will see me safely through the winter and beyond.  They will keep my feet warm and dry.  They will protect my toes from errant forks and soles safe from stray nails.  The only problem is they are too shiny.  Tomorrow I will be working on rectifying this.

Although a little chilly, these dewy mornings can be very beautiful.