Hello and welcome to my garden journal, a pausing point and record of my garden focussed world right now.

Autumn begins… I began writing this journal on Friday last, holed up in the garden hut due to persistent rain which had teemed down for hours. Being on the coat tails of storm Amy and forecast for the weekend, I was thankful that all I had to endure was the regular tapping of rain on the roof.

Now though a full week has flown by, calmer weather has returned and another Harvest Moon wanes. Thankfully I can report that storm Amy treated us kindly, all told, and certainly better than up north where much damage was reported. Locally, paths and roadsides were peppered with twigs and fallen leaves, many still in the green, whilst acorns layered the ground beneath most every oak. Autumn, it appears, has introduced its turbulent self…

Despite the hint of destruction mentioned above, it is important to remember that autumn brings positive vibes too. For many, autumn is a time where getting out and about takes precedence, even just to kick through some leaves, or warm souls with a hot chocolate or two. Others embrace the shoulder season by slinking into some kind of pre-hibernation state, where focus shifts towards hunkering down for winter, which surely means stacking up on books and sweet treats for those long dark nights, right?

As for me, knowing that professional gardening continues apace, I’ll take the best of both worlds, please. I’ll grab every opportunity I can to be outdoors, view tinted light and unusual tones thrown across gardens, and I’ll revel in all those autumnal colours, thanks. Holed up at home though, you’ll find me equally captivated by a flickering candle at sunset, some incense smoking in the corner, and with a good book in hand.

Before my mushiness gets too out of control, I’ll check myself for a second, for whilst it’s easy to focus on the soft and moody side of autumn, gardens and gardeners will now be facing a good deal of change. All that cleaning and preening we’ve done all summer, may now come undone before our eyes. Whilst we strive to keep some sort of order, however, can I make a plea not to mentally sweep away our autumn season as if it were blighting our once pristine places – even if in some cases, that is our task.

Keep our paths clean for safety’s sake, ensure our drains run free, and if need be, prevent smart lawns and delicate plants from drowning under the weight of leaves. But for the benefit of nature, and your wellbeing, relax that tidy grip on gardens a little if you can, and embrace the change we’re in. Winter will come soon enough.

On the work front… Things are a bit lively on the work front just now, but one thing especially worth a mention is a leaving do last week, arranged on behalf of a ‘retiring’ colleague.

Simon Gulliver was one of a panel who interrogated me a few years ago for the post of garden and parks consultant, and he certainly put me through the mill. If you know Simon at all, you’ll understand how well placed he was to test me at interview on heritage and horticultural matters, with his long list of quali’s, sharp wit, and wry smile to match.

I’m sure Simon extracted a good deal of satisfaction that day, knowing that his team was finally expanding with two additional staff, and again last year when another joined our ranks; even if we have all worked part time. I personally take comfort in having kept Simon on his toes these past four years, and for having asked all those awkward questions of him! I’ve been so very fortunate in being given the opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable and respected horticulturalist, and thoroughly decent chap. The whole regional and national team are pretty formidable to be fair.

There’s little in the world of NT garden and parks management that has sneaked past our eyes unnoticed these last few years. Simon’s eyes were better than most however, and I couldn’t have wished for a better introduction, or for a more supportive colleague – thanks Mr. G, and best of luck for your onward journey.

In the Garden

At home, the most time-consuming activity of late, beyond mowing grass which still only slows a touch, has been planting up an old ceramic sink that I’ve lugged around from garden to garden for years. It’s one of those features that never seems to fit the aesthetic I’m searching for, and it’s ridiculously heavy and unwieldy, but I’d hate to let it go to waste.

Last weekend during a gap in the weather, a focussed session saw the sink levelled out and cleaned in order to drain effectively. I then filled it with layers of free-draining material, planted it up and topped it with grit – finally it was job done. Instantly my shifted mindset wondered what all the fuss had been about.

I appreciate that an old sink in the garden isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and that it hasn’t been planted in true alpine garden fashion, but it perfectly suits the spot, and will suit me just fine, for now. Whilst Monty pedals exquisite pottery most Fridays, and some prefer their corten steel, I grew up with Geoff Hamilton’s school of thought, so repurposing an old sink ticks the box for me. Mind you, I do love my terracotta too!

Looking Ahead

Right now, whilst awaiting a delivery of flower bulbs, I’m living in that happy space remembering not quite what I ordered, but excited to see what’s in the box when it arrives. There are yet more ‘putting to bed’ tasks to complete at the allotment, which I’ve decided to cover separately, and I’m planning a couple of decent sized garden projects at home over the winter, but otherwise it’s full ahead steady, whilst I puff my way through autumn. 

Oh yes, work activity will be keeping me on my toes in the coming days too, so lots of fun and games there might I add.

On that note I’ll sign out of journal entry number nine, and wish you well until next time. All the best, Gary. Gardening Ways.