High Peak Garden

I made a return visit to plant some bulbs, but was thwarted by the frost. It made the planting look good though, the leaves of the Phlomis russeliana particularly. The woodland meadow is planted with Persicaria ampolexicaulis 'Firetail' Geranium psilostemon and Melica uniflora, with Narcissus poeticus recurvus.

Dead hedge

A good example of creating a stock proof barrier in a rural setting, when a fence won't do. Posts are driven in with brushwood woven in between. Whips (small trees/shrubs) can be planted which will eventually grow into a hedge. This one at the Waulkmill, joins beautifully to a wicket gate and drystone wall.

Let's hear it for autumn

Outside the Imperial War Museum in London is the Tibetan Peace Garden.
What could be cooler than white Japanese anemones and electric blue ceratostigma? The combination of flowering ivy and virginia creeper careering over a high wall is lush. Plenty pollen for the bees and colour for the eye until winter comes.

Trentham Gardens

Piet Oudolf's planting at Trentham, Staffordshire: Creamy Selinum wallichianum, with cauliflowers of purple sedum, plumy grasses and some eupatorium hanging about at the back.

Last tomatoes

Finally clearing out the greenhouse, here are the last ripe tomatoes of the season. Same number again of green ones! This year I grew Scottish Yellow and Mini Orange, both from the Heritage Seed Library, at Garden Organic. The Mini Orange has tended to mildew, even in the greenhouse. The Scottish Yellow has yielded well and looks good, but tastes better cooked. I got a great oven dried toms recipe from someone at our East Cheshire Organic group.