Weeds

The weeds went into overdrive as soon as my back was turned. I was only away for a week but there must be two weeks worth of weeding to do. I find it quite therapeutic - almost meditative - and the dogs will be happy. At this time of year they can stay wherever I'm working without needing to retreat into the shade.     
   

It's five or six years since I planted some of the borders and they're starting to look very tired. A few of the shrubs and several of the climbingTrachelospurmum jasminoides were badly damaged in the snow. I left them alone this year just to see whether they'd recover. They haven't. Echinacea that I planted 3 or 4 years ago is slowly disappearing. It bulked up well in its second year, but since then the clumps have become smaller and smaller.  Time for a re-think this winter. 

I spent a few days looking at gardens on the Isle of Wight last week.  The weather was atrocious but the gardens (well chosen by the Isle of Wight Gardens Trust) were worth seeing.  Northcourt Manor - also excellent B&B (http://www.northcourt.info/)  and Ventnor Botanic Garden were two at the top of my list. Lots of exciting plants that we can't grow without protection in this part of the world - yet.

Tomorrow (14th) is a fruit day so I'm planting some early peas.  I've never had much success with autumn sowings in the past. Perhaps planting on a fruit day will make all the difference..