We've had some real downpours over the weekend. There was heavy rain on Friday night which lasted right the way through to Saturday evening. I'm glad we hadn't planned to go to a bonfire. I thought the weather was finally changing, yet look at the gorgeous blue sky on the photo I took today. Perhaps our first frost is still a little way off.
The pumpkins which I wrote about in an earlier post got a reprieve. It turned out that my daughter had a drama rehearsal on Halloween so we didn't end up carving them after all. I think I'll have a go at making pumpkin soup.
I grew some borage too but it was a bit of a thug. And all those tiny little prickly hairs brought me out in dermatitis. The flowers did look very pretty and the bees loved them but I don't think it'll be on my plot next year unless I can find somewhere a bit out of the way. We had loads of rain last week but it has been a beautiful weekend. Really clear night tonight - maybe a touch of frost.
ReplyDeleteThe weather so far this Autumn has been a lot milder than normal hasn't it? I was down at Worthing this weekend, and we walked along the pier in balmy temperatures and admired a flat-calm sea. We had expected to be blown around by freezing gales.
ReplyDeleteAs we have a very active beekeeping group at the allotment, I made a point of planting some Borage. It makes a lovely pale, creamy flavoured honey.
ReplyDeleteIt does self-seed with more fecundity than a pair of school gerbils, but why complain?
Wow, look at the colour of your sky! We've had a fairly grey weekend but at least it's been dry. I thought you'd taken your photo in the summer! What crazy weather! (I have borage growing for the first time on my balcony from seed planted in the summer. Does it die back in the winter?)
ReplyDeleteI bet the bees were muttering under their breath Jo. You've had far more rain than us.
ReplyDeleteI've got plenty of borage too...it's amazing how large it grows and I also love keeping it around for the bees :)
ReplyDeleteYes I love the borage plant too. It's everywhere here.
ReplyDeleteBorage is supposed to be good in pimms isn't it? Looks lovely against the blue sky - it's been cold, grey and rainy here for the alst couple of days.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try growing some borage next year to encourage more bees, Pretty picture Jo.
ReplyDeleteI hear the weather is going to be fine and settled over most of the country this coming weekend - fingers crossed!
Jeanne
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I just bought some borage plants on the weekend!
ReplyDeleteIf you've had borage on your plot this year then I bet it's on your plot next year, Wellywoman. I haven't sown it for two years but there's still loads of plants there. It is a bit of a thug, but the bees love it, and it's easy to pull out if it's in the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how mild this November has been so far, Mark. Each time we get a cooler day I think this is it, but then the temperature rises again, weird.
I bet the bees love you for planting borage, Blue Shed Thinking. I know the bees are always buzzing around my plants. The honey sounds delicious too so it's a win win situation.
I've always pulled my borage up so that I can dig the ground over, but it's self seeded and come back the following year, Caro. It was lovely spending some time at the allotment with blue skies overhead, I can't believe it's November.
I did feel a bit guilty pulling them up, but I can't really wait much longer to dig the allotment over, Sue. We had loads of rain on Friday and Saturday, it's funny how the weather can differ so much within a few miles.
Borage does grow quite tall, Tanya. It seems to shoot up really quickly too. I'll keep some of the self seeders again next year.
I think my allotment would be covered in Borage if I didn't pull some of the plants out, Don't unplug your hub. I think you only need sow it once then you'll never be without it.
I believe borage is supposed to be good in Pimms, Su. I made borage ice cubes a couple of years ago, they looked pretty with a borage flower in the middle of the cube. I hope your weather has improved a bit, we've had a few grey days this week.
Borage will definitely encourage the bees, Jeanne. Glad to hear that a fine weekend is forecast, I need to get more jobs done at the allotment.
I hope you enjoy the borage plants, Mrs Bok. They're such a lovely flower, and so good for the bees too.
I too have a borage for the bees...I now have my first Aubergine....xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and leaving a comment, Lynn. It took me three years of trying to grow an aubergine before I managed it, they're not really suited to growing in the north of England with our colder climate so I haven't bothered since. I hope you enjoy your's.
ReplyDeleteLove borage. Makes a striking combination with calendulas Jo :)
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it planted alongside calendulas, Anna. I'll have to think about that next year.
ReplyDeleteThe borage looks beautiful especially against the blue skies.....I didn't carve my pumpkins for Halloween...they're kind of a weird shape....I am still hoping to make some soup...and roast the seeds for eating too!!
ReplyDeleteI still can't believe how many blue skies we've had in November, Tanya. Very strange weather. Some of the pumpkins I've grown previously have grown in a weird shape, this year's are a more traditional shape, they would have been ideal for carving.
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