Tag: gardening

Dear September

Hi!

Where did our time go September?   30 days and it was all over!

You gave me glorious weather (mostly!) and lots of time in the garden appreciating the wonderful flowers still blooming their socks off.   Considering that from February to April it looked like a muddy mess, now it’s landscaped and lovely.autumn garden 3

My little Leprechaun turned Imp now has her Brownie Gardener badge for the hard work she put in sowing seeds, thinning out, weeding, watering and finally clearing away.   Hopefully she’ll help again next Spring, and her grandparents want to hire her for her skills with a seed packet.

simplicity 2828 finished dressI achieved things, September.   This pretty dress for Rainbow Craftyguidelet, some cards, some bunting, and even a tutorial for the book bags I made for the Craftyguidelets’ music lessons.   Sales have been picking up with Craftyguider following a bit of promo work, and the big push to Christmas starts now.   The Christmas shop is now open.   I just need to fill it up a bit more!christmas tree decsMy Guiding life has started again.   Guides and Rainbows are back, and once again I am juggling admin, trying to get as many girls as possible off the waiting lists and into units where they can join the fun, and trying to encourage more volunteers to come forward and help this to happen.IMG_8261I have also started Trefoil Guild which is like the WI for Guiding types.   It was so lovely just going to a meeting for grown ups, not being asked to do anything, not being responsible for anything, not feeling guilty for not doing more.   I just enjoyed the talk on the fabulous work of Guide Dogs and the puppy walkers.   Finally something just for me to enjoy!Harry Guide Dog 1WI planning has started again for our Handmade Christmas Craft Fair on 16th November.   I need to get a shifty on for my stall!photo (59)

But then just like that it was over September.   30 days of full on busyness and then phwoomp!   October happened.

Autumn is here and I’ll be joining in with Miss Beatrix’s #BashSAD challenge to banish the blues of the shorter days.   I’m also attempting to complete a whole month of the Fat Mum Slim #fmsphotoaday challenge on Instagram.   My house is finally gaining some order after a summer of neglect, the kids are settled at school.   Let’s do this October!

What was that?   Half term at the end of the month?   *sticks fingers in ears and pretends not to hear*

What are you up to this month?

My Autumn Garden

Autumn Garden TitleLast Spring, eldest Craftyguidelet planted lots of annual seeds for her Brownie Gardener badge.   She cared for them, watered them, thinned them out, transplanted them, weeded and produced a fabulous display throughout the summer.   This weekend, to finish her badge, it was time to pull all the spent flowers up to prepare the beds for winter.

She attacked the task with enthusiasm (once I’d dragged her away from a game involving every single toy she owns by the look of the playroom).   After clearing a section of her allocated bed, she found this beauty hidden away.autumn garden 3It made me think about all the other plants in my garden that were still flowering their socks off.autumn garden autumn garden 4 autumn garden 2This Fuschia is called Baby Blue Eyes.   I bought some for eldest Craftyguidelet’s grandparents when she was born as she had the biggest blue eyes.autumn garden - fuschia baby blue eyesThe Craftyguidelets grew sunflowers from school as well as some 8ft tall monsters.autumn garden - sunflowerautumn garden - sedumautumn garden - sedum and lilyautumn garden - scabiousautumn garden - rudbeckiaThis is my favourite plant in the garden at the moment.   I first came across Stipa tenuissima when I studied at gardening college (an RHS evening course equivalent to a gardening A level).   It is so touchy feely.   I’ve got 2 clumps in my garden near the paths so I can run my fingers through it when I walk past.autumn garden - stipa tenuissimaautumn garden - sedum and lilyautumn garden - dahliaautumn garden - pink diasicaThis Brunnera shows that you don’t need flowers to create an impact.autumn garden - brunneraAnd this Heuchera combines flowers and beautiful leaves.autumn garden - heucheraSo go out and appreciate all that Autumn has to offer.