Through the Garden Gate November 2016

Another month draws to a close and with the daylight hours decreasing the changes in the garden this month have been more dramatic. At the beginning of the month the grape leaves were still displaying beautiful colours and now they have all gone!  On the fig tree the leaves just all fell off within two days of each other! Has anyone else noticed all the leaves dropping off at once, in their garden too?

We still have a few autumn raspberries, variety Joan-J, which were recommended by Sam at a coastal plot. Although they are in their first year and aren't planted in an ideal situation  next to the shed,we have been pleased with the crop, the berries are so big and tasty.

One of my biennial honesty plant (lunaria) which I grew from seeds, I received from CT from Countryside tales is in flower. I always thought this usually flowered in May. It's very strange as there are no signs of flowers on any of the other plants I have grown from the same batch of seeds! I love it's alternative name  Money plant  - the seeds pods (still very green above) are meant to resemble coins.

Since the heavier rain earlier in the week has disappeared, we have been spending lots of time in the garden tidying it up for winter. I much prefer doing jobs at this time of year rather than working out in the freezing cold in the winter months. The last tulips have been planted and I am hopeful of a good display next Spring!

My husband has been replacing the fence this week too. He wanted to do it in the Spring but there were so many plants appearing that I persuaded him to wait until the Autumn. Much to our surprise and relief Tavi didn't realise that he had free access to the field while the new one was being installed!

With the new fence installed we have moved this grass so we get the full effect of the sunlight shining through it. We are hoping that it will not be damaged too much by the strong coastal winds.

Colour in the garden this month is provided by the sedum (above) and the hydrangea (below). What are the dominant colours in your garden this month?

And finally .... a medlar from the community orchard. Have you ever tasted a medlar? It doesn't look very appetising does it? Peel the skin away and the flesh looks just like a rotten mushy brown apple, but the taste was delicious, it was sweet and reminded me of date mixed with a very ripe apple. It's flowers in the spring are meant to be unusual and beautiful too, I will have to remember to take the camera to the orchard next spring and capture them.

Please visit the other gardens who are joining me in "through the Garden Gate". If you wish to join us please mention in the comments below.

Others taking part in through the garden gate are:-

Coastal Ripples
Margaret's patch
Elephant's Eye on False Bay

Thank you for visiting and leaving me comments, have fun this week!

Sarah x