Autumn garden pleasure

Gosh, I’ve managed to get from Spring to Autumn in one short step, bypassing the summer entirely. Summer contained a wonderful trip to the Faroe Islands, which I haven’t written about, because life has other priorities just now, but which was a delightful experience.

My dear heart and I managed to take our annual trip to the Lakes, though he wasn’t able to do much other than enjoy being there, sitting quietly in the Lodge, listening to sport on the radio, and sleeping rather a lot. His family came over for the first couple of days, which was a huge pleasure. We love the area both for its beauty and because, after many years of visiting, we can just relax and not feel we have to do “stuff” though I did take a couple of short trips out on my own. Again, if I can manage it, will comment on this separately.

One of the greatest joys in being away is coming home to the rolling Downs and brilliant sea washed skies which are the gift of living by the coast. And, of course, coming back to our garden which is looking pleasantly autumnal. 

The front garden, which is where most of these images were taken, was entirely created for us from a shingle desert which had housed vans and cars. It was the first thing we did after moving here in 2010, when this blog started. Now it is growing towards maturity. The weeping silver birch flows and flutters over the bed, with dainty cyclamen at its base, along with snowdrops in spring. 

There is a self seeded cotoneaster, which is very happy in the gravel parking area.

An area which had become a bit bare, but has just had primulas and pansies tucked in to bring colour as they settle in

The nerines below the bay windows love the hot sunshine and are responding accordingly, along with the irises, now long past flowering, which are trying to take over and must be disciplined next year!

A happy rose, which clashes delightfully with the pink of the nerines

And at the rear of the house, our courtyard with my “slow trees” and other plants, again bringing autumnal colour close by.

A single treat from last week, taken on the one short walk I managed. The Langdale Pikes looking like benign floating giants sleeping above one of the Elterwater lakes.