From Sweaters to Sunscreen

Published on by Catherine31 Comments

I messaged my daughter in the US to say how hot it’s been this week at 28C. She sympathised and said it was 37C where she is.

I messaged my youngest in Australia and told her the same. She laughed and said, “Mum, it’s just going into spring here, and it’s 26C”. OK, I know how hot it gets over there, but I suppose it’s what you’re used to and here on the west coast of Scotland, 28C is hot! I’ve put my new autumn sweaters back in the wardrobe and dug out my summer blouses. And the sunscreen.

I’m sure Saturday Sixers up and down the country will be commenting about the heat we’ve had this week. It’s come as a surprise but I have to confess, I’ve enjoyed the warmth and sunshine, an unexpected treat for September.

My garden though, has been baking. I mentioned last week that my Cosmos were fading. I wanted to persuade them to last a little longer, but I made the decision this week not to use water on them and let them die off. I’ve made the same decision with other annuals and as a result, much of the garden is looking sad right now. But let’s take a look at this week’s selection for Six on Saturday.

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Welcome to Autumn

Published on by Catherine27 Comments

Six on Saturday

Friday 1st September was notable for two big reasons. First, it was littlest grandson’s 5th birthday and he’s settled in well at school. We all knew he would. Second, if you observe the Meteorological calendar, it was the first day of Autumn.

So what do you like most about autumn? For me it’s the changing colour of the leaves on the trees, cool days where I get to wear a cosy scarf and gloves and not feel silly the way I did during a couple of days in July! I hope for a dry crisp autumn where fallen leaves crunch underfoot in the park and the sparkle of morning frost. Simple things to make me happy.

Our temperatures are apparently going to be 19C to 23C this coming week, better than many days we had in summer. My garden’s parched as we haven’t had rain for what seems like ages and there’s little rain showing on the weather forecast. I’ll have to get the hose out. In September?

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Not an Ugly Duckling

Published on by Catherine32 Comments

Six on Saturday

Three of the six photos are from this week, and the other three were taken just before my teenage grandsons arrived on their first international trip without their parents (actually, their first trip anywhere on their own!). Am I cheating with my before and now photos? Perhaps I need to read the rules for Six on Saturday, but for this week, I hope our host Jim will forgive me! The boys have gone home now, and I’m surveying the sad state of the garden. It’s looking sad because many of the plants are already fading as autumn creeps in and also because too many have failed to perform this year.

The main failures this season have been the dahlias, two so far, have failed to produce any flowers at all, and the remainder have produced far fewer blooms than in previous years. To add to the problem, the snails, slugs and earwigs have been feasting well on them. Is anyone else having dahlia problems this year?

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Shades of Autumn

Published on by Catherine26 Comments

July was a wet, windy and cold month, and I see signs of autumn creeping into the garden already. But if the gorgeous colours of the Rudbeckias will stay with me for the next few months, then I’m ready to welcome Autumn in!

Six on Saturday

Rudbeckias. Recently planted Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Glow’, Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Ruby Crush’ and Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Romance’ (above and below) are described as perennials by the online garden website I bought them from, but the site goes on to state “Rudbeckia is best grown as a magnificent half-hardy annual”. I’ve never been successful in getting Rudbeckias through the winter, but I plan to leave them in the soil when they die back and hope for the best.

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