Mirrors, berries and a hitch-hiker snail
Isn’t November beautiful! Fabulous colours and amazing berries. I picked some red and yellow ones from a Rowan tree and spent a fun half-hour arranging them in vases. My pink cosmos had its last picking and now the cold has just got too much for them. They have been an absolute delight, and have pride of place on the dresser.



Reflecting glory
Top of my list this month was to finish painting a mirror and install it on the wall above the patio table and chairs. It’s painted in a colour to match the kitchen and so as you look through the French doors, it looks like the kitchen is extended. It looks even better than I had imagined. The mirror reflects the sunlight wall opposite and bounces the light into this otherwise shaded area.


It is also fun having a display of the season on the table. My pumpkins weren’t that good to carve but look positively stunning used as planters. The orange meant a home for my continuing successful supply of ophiopogon black grass.
A visit to a garden center procured some Blue Cushion sedum. These coupled with Aloe Vera and other grey succulents (that have names that are impossible to pronounce) all make a lovely autumnal display.

Plotting revenge

Up at the allotment it is easy to get distracted as the neighbouring plot holder’s son still continues to play football. This drives me crazy, as the ball has landed on my veggie beds several times. Whenever I complain, however politely, he and his wife are so rude. This time he thought it really clever to move the goalposts to the other side but same distance from my plot. What do I do now? The problem with privately run allotments is that in this case, there are no formal rules. The plot manager says he’ll talks to these people over the winter. I shall keep my ranting to Facebook.

Successes abound with my broad beans germinating! How delightful and so encouraging to see new life in late autumn. Leeks are harvesting, and occasionally I’ll bring home a hitch hiker-snail that is highly amusing for the cat. Broccoli is still yielding and the evidence of Brussels sprouts nestling in their hiding places is so pleasing to see.

Refreshing pots.
I needed to replace some plants on the rack be the front door and so pansies to match the purple door seemed proper. Plus the great thing about having a potting bench as its somewhere to put your entire garden center buys until I have a chance to plant them! Luxury.



Gill