Since most soil is still warm, it's a proper time to plant large plants and trees.
Spring flowering plants and bulbs can be planted.
Clean away dead leaves and plant debris. Do leave some so as to replinish the earth and provide habitats for insects which in turn provide food for winter birds.
Tidy up flower beds and empty pots of dead annuals.
Clear away and store containers, pots and garden decor before freezing weather arrives.
When weather does turn much colder, be sure to wrap fragile plants and bring in those that can not stand freezing weather.
Inhale deeply and remind self that this Autumn, these moments will never come again and be thankful to have labored and delighted in them.
...We hope you don't mind that we are greeting you a bit early. Yes, we know the leaves are hardly changing and the weather is still frightfully warm. And we also know that in reality you are still ten days away (because it's a leap year!) but we just can't help ourselves! The anticipation is just too much to bear and so we ask that you indulge us with this precocious welcome mat. Please do come in this teeny bit early and then be sure to stay as long as you wish. We would surely appreciate it, and we hope you understand our autumnal excitement.
Yours sincerely,
The best (and loveliest) time to collect leaves, roots, flowers and
seeds is in the early morning after the mist and dew has evaporated.
Choose plants that are clean, free of any pests or diseases.
Choose flowers that are newly opened. Some flower buds are also quite pretty
in the final mix.
*Hint: Always collect 4 times the amount you will need for the final potpourri mix as flowers, leaves etc. will shrink when dried.
June 15
The birds still sing morning and evening, but there is not nearly such
a full choir as there was a month ago. the cares and responsibilities
of large families of hungry fledgelings make too many demands on the
time and attention of the anxious parents.
It
is very pretty to see the House Martins sitting in the roadway,
collecting mud for their nests. Their short feathered legs look as if
they had little white socks on.
I was quite surprised to come upon a
bank of beautiful purple Fox-gloves today,--fully out. These are the
first oI have seen in flower.
~The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
Recent Comments