August was a bit of a damp squib here in Yorkshire, I’m a fair weather gardener so I didn’t get out much! The weather has finally picked up a bit and there is now LOTS to do in the garden!!

I’ve started the autumn tidy up, cutting back perennials that are over, dead heading roses and pruning any diseased bits…and lots of weeding! The annual weeds are suddenly setting seed so I’m madly trying to get them all out, some of them are very clever – bitter cress pings it’s seeds away as you try and pick it.

I’ve also started a long overdue overhaul of the area beneath the bird-feeders, it’s been getting more and more out of control and the teasing Georgia rose hasn’t done much at all for the last few years, to be fair it must be at least 15 years old, it was one of the first ones I bought, it’s also in the worst soil of the garden…and it succumbs to blackspot every year too….I’m trying to defend myself for the fact that I’ve dug it up together with the honeysuckle which equally hasn’t performed for years!

I’ve cleared out much of the geranium too which had spread all over, I’ve still got the big magenta Ann Folkard geranium, though I’m planning to move it to a better place, Jack Frost brunnera is also safe, together with a clematis which has also been in for many years. I still need to divide the Dutch irises and probably move but save the astrantia…

My plan is to build a new arch, similar to the arbour you can just see at the top of the photo, I’m removing a lot of the soil as I want to plant another rose, if you try and replant a rose in the same spot you risk rose sickness in the new one. I’ll put either some planks or log roll round the edges to raise it a bit, so I can then put lots of compost and some topsoil, hopefully improving the soil enough so a new rose will thrive. I just need the purple clematis on the other side of the arch to finish flowering before I remove the rotten arch…

When I’m sitting in the amber & amethyst garden (AKA the beer garden!) having a cup of tea or a glass of wine with my OH, we usually sit in the same places out of habit. I was up there gardening and sat for a rest on his chair. I realised he had a completely different vista and could see between the roses and the osmanthus to the rest of the roses…and it looked nice and colourful.

Another corner by the obelisk up there is also looking very colourful.

The bright yellow one is a rudbekia I think, though it’s a lot taller than ones I’ve had before, it adds a nice splash of colour. The pinky purple echinacia is one I planted this year, I think it works well next to the dark red sedum.

I’ve started tidying the autumn bed, which is just behind the amber & amethyst agraden, considering it was only planted last year, it’s looking pretty full. The rose Lark Ascending has been beautiful, it’s flowers are a gorgeous apricot colour and look so delicate.

I’ve another pairing of sedum and echinacea by the lawn and completely by chance. I think I bought the echinacea on the market and then wondered where I was going to put it!

The pond area is looking like a jungle at the moment, it’s another area that needs a lot of work over the next few months – as well as the raised bed down by the conservatory…I think I’m going to be busy!