I've seen many more butterflies and bees this year than I usually do which I'm so pleased about. I know the sedum has attracted lots of different types of butterfly to my garden.
Harvesting of the potatoes I grew in containers continued into October, it's been a good year for spuds. I don't think you can beat Anya, a waxy potato with a delicious flavour. The yields have been better this year than in previous years.
A few more photos from our trip to Harlow Carr earlier this month.
More photos from Manor Park Walled Garden. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here.
Mick popped to the allotment on Monday and pulled the remaining carrots from the WoodBlocX raised bed. I'm delighted with my carrot harvest this year, they've done so well. I put the success down to the WoodBlocX raised bed and a covering of enviromesh.
It's a miserable day here, the rain's falling and it's dark and gloomy. I'm already wishing for Spring to arrive. I've got a long wait.
A gorgeous butterfly photo, sedums are amazing for attracting pollinators aren't they. I really must get one for the garden, maybe by taking a cutting of the allotment one. That's a fantastic potato harvest, I really like Anya as well. And excellent carrots. I've had a good crop this year, but they're starting to be nibbled now. Harlow Carr looks gorgeous, glad you had a nice time there. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI think I shall take some cuttings from my sedum, I'd like one for the front garden because the pollinators just can't get enough of them. The potatoes and carrots have done really well this year, I'm really pleased, I've never grown such good carrots before so I'm under pressure to produce the same quality again next year now.
DeleteA wonderful selection of pictures, especially considering that it's October.
ReplyDeleteIt's not quite as bad here, just damp and dull. Flighty xx
We've had some lovely days in October but I think we're over the best now, it's all downhill from here.
DeleteWe were just thinking how few butterflies we have seen this year. There have been plenty of bees but not so many butterflies and the ones that we have seen have appeared much later in the year.
ReplyDeleteThey must have all flown over here, there's been a much wider variety than I usually see too. It's ladybirds which I haven't seen many of this year.
DeleteHi Jo it is miserable here I hate being stuck indoors, I already have the winter blues.
ReplyDeleteThe one good thing about being stuck indoors is that I can craft without feeling guilty. If the weather's fine I feel as though I should be doing some outdoor jobs.
DeleteSeeing your photo of the Anya potatoes makes me even more sure that the ones I bought as Pink Fir Apple were actually Anya. Glad to hear that you have had a good carrot harvest. The combination of deep raised bed and Enviromesh certainly works well.
ReplyDeleteI think you may be right about your Pink Fir Apple spuds, they weren't very pink and weren't very knobbly either. I'm thrilled with my carrots this year, they've done so well. The carroty scent as I was taking the above photo was unbelievable, you don't get that from shop bought carrots.
DeleteWhat a beautiful carrot harvest! Mine still look quite small - I keep thinking that I'll be pulling them up any day now so that I can clear the bed, but then we get a forecast for some nice weather (it's supposed to get up to 18C next week??) and I figure I'll let them get a bit bigger. At this rate, we may be harvesting carrots at Christmas - which is altogether not a bad thing actually ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with the carrots, we've been eating them all summer and this is what we're left with now. I pulled them up before the slugs could get to them now that we're getting some wet weather but carrots for Christmas dinner sounds wonderful.
DeleteNice photos, Jo! This is the first year to grow sedum...will they last outside through the winter (die back and come back in the spring)?? Thanks for any tips! We live in Kentucky...harsh winters.
ReplyDeleteSedums cope with our winters very well. Mine's starting to die back now but I leave it to do its own thing, only in spring will I cut back the dead plant material once I see some fresh new growth. I suppose like any plant, there'll be some varieties of sedum which are hardier than others so I should do a bit of research in to the variety you've got.
DeleteThanks,Jo! It was a gift, so guess first thing Is to identify it! I'll get my flower books out and try to see what type it is. They are beautiful!
DeleteIt's always a bit of a problem if you don't know the variety, sometimes it's a bit of a guessing game. They all seem to be quite tough plants so I'm sure it will cope with winter well, but I'd say you're always wise to err on the side of caution so perhaps give it a bit of protection if you don't manage to find out what variety it is.
DeleteGreat pictures - love those carrots.
ReplyDeleteThe carrots are my pride and joy this year, they've never done so well for me in the past.
DeleteLove the photo of the walk by the wall, neat and ordered, just how I like paths, nice harvest.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful garden, lots of lovely level paths but other entries which are more quaint too.
DeleteThank you for all the lovely colour on this gloomy gray day :)
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to look back at photos of sunnier days, especially once we're in the depths of winter.
DeleteOh those carrots are looking good Jo. Enjoy this down time to dream and plan - spring and all its urgency will be upon us all too soon :)
ReplyDeleteThe carrots taste delicious too, so carroty. Spring can't come soon enough for me, I'm not a lover of winter at all.
DeleteGreat carrot harvest! Always nice to see your extra photos from the month. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm just hoping that this year wasn't a fluke where my carrots are concerned and that I can produce some fine specimens again next year.
DeleteWe have had more butterflies in this last month than the whole of the summer put together, but plenty of bees throughout.
ReplyDeleteI've seen lots of bees all year too, more honey bees that I've seen previously though. I'm really pleased that I've seen a variety of butterflies this year, usually it's just the cabbage white with one or two others.
DeleteI love butterflies. I was walking once and one landed on my shoulder and I SWEAR it pinched, scratched, or bit me. Whatever it was, it HURT! Everyone says that's impossible but ouch!
ReplyDeleteEeek. I'm not sure whether they do pinch, scratch or bite but I wouldn't fancy them coming near me again if I'd experienced that.
DeleteYou've had a good crop of potatoes and carrots. We're glad to be back from our time away to gather more of our own fruit and veggies. We've certainly noticed the difference between Italy and the UK in the colours of the Autumn season, which seems more advanced here. (We had mixed weather in Italy - it wasn't all sunshine in October)! I've enjoyed your colourful post today.
ReplyDeleteThe potatoes, carrots and tomatoes have been the stars of the show this year, they've all done marvelously. I think autumn came on overnight here, it seemed slow to arrive but once it did, the leaves were dropping in no time.
DeleteIt is good to hear it has been a good year for bees and butterflies Jo.
ReplyDeleteI have seen so few butterflies this year and it has concerned me.
I have read the some species are heading North due to climate change........maybe they have left my garden and gone to yours :))
Lovely potatoes........you have done well with them it would appear.
Have a good weekend........
I think I've definitely got your butterflies, I've seen so many more this year than in previous years, bees too. I've done very well with my potatoes this year, there's been plenty to share with my mum and dad so that's good, they're always pleased when I take them fresh veggies.
DeleteYour carrots have done so well this year, you can't beat that home grown taste.
ReplyDeleteI do like that first photo of the butterfly ... sedum seems super for attracting them.
All the best Jan
You can definitely tell home grown carrots from shop bought, I don't think you've actually tasted a proper carrot unless you've grown your own, such a different taste. Sedums are fabulous plants for pollinators, this one has attracted so many different varieties of butterfly in to my garden this year and I've never seen so many honey bees about before either.
DeleteThe days are short now for sure....I suppose we just have to batten down the hatches and get cosy, as you say it's a long wait until spring!
ReplyDeleteYou have had a great year veggie wise, your spuds and carrots, along with your toms have done brilliantly!
Some lovely pics here, especially the butterfly, good to hear you have seen an increase.xxx
I can't believe how early it is when I'm drawing the curtains now. I've had a great year for tomatoes, potatoes and carrots, I really can't complain. I'm thrilled to have seen so many butterflies this year, along with honey bees, I'm hoping that they return next year.
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