Garden Diary: September

Isn't it funny - all that fuss about 'what happened to the promised barbeque summer' but hardly anything about what a lovely September it's been. John Humphrys has even been complaining that it's been too dry. It's true, the sunny weather has caught me out a few times, but overall for someone who works outside a lot, it's been great.

The garden doesn't look bad either.

Tagetes blooming at last, having survived slug depredations. Sorrel in too great an amount for even our salad-eating habits. I will have to give some away. Oregano also allowed to flower, for the sake of the bees and hoverflies. Plastic yoghurt pots turned in slug-proofing for winter salad mustards.

Part of the potato crop - Pink Fir Apple. Very tasty, but not a prolific potato at the best of times. I've been slightly disappointed about my potatoes, and will try old compost sacks turned inside out next year, with better compost.

From the front: sunflower, Achocha, and runner beans. The Achocha (the 'Lost Fruit of the Incas') has only recently flowered so I'm not sure whether it will get enough sun to fruit. Lovely leaves though.

The main garden looking lovely and lush, with white Japanese anemones and tomatillos.

Our apple tree doing what it does best: producing more huge apples than we can ever eat, on branches which droop down and make hanging out the washing a limbo job.

Finally, indoors are three 'Ring of Fire' chillies. It's the first time in 25 years that I've grown chillies; the last time was at university and resulted in a mini-riot.

Bottesford and Stamford

A pleasant day in a town which epitomises much of what is lovely about England. History, architecture, local shops, tea and scones.

First an accidental visit to Bottesford and its glorious church chock full of old tombs with carvings of people with very solid ruffs and rows of children like tiny adults. There are also some interesting late medieval carvings including this one, possibly one of the deadly sins.



Below, two of the four Stamford churches we explored: St. John's Church: a grinning hand rest and an angel roof, and St. Mary's: a glimpse of the lovely arts and crafts chapel ceiling. More information about both churches here.