Autumn turns to Winter

A lot going on in the garden and on the estate, so watch out for some reports on that - ranging from Peto's rose garden, to Alison Jenkins' new designs for the borders on the terrace for 2014, some stonework challenges, and the excitement of winter garden maintenance.

Meanwhile, here are some photos of the winter transition.  For more, you can find us on Facebook here:

Post by Iford Manor: The Peto Gardens.

  

Autumn images

Welcome, Autumn!

The evenings are drawing in now that the equinox is passed, and whilst the birds may still be singing and the Indian summer sun breaking gently through the mists, the mellow fruitfulness requires some pruning.  Mark, our fruit tree expert has been putting the cordon trees to bed for the year.  The oldest apples in the kitchen garden pre-date Harold Peto by quite some stretch, but they battle on (mostly).

 Meanwhile, the last of the floral colour in the garden is holding out, while we wait for the trees to change their wardrobe for the 'fall'.

 

 But the trees aren't far behind... so don't forget that Iford is still open on Sundays in October.

A walk round the garden this afternoon

I had twenty minutes spare this afternoon, and the sun was shining.  So, armed annoyingly with the less good camera, I set off into the garden to see what I could find.  Leaves, mostly, and the odd berry.

 

Autumn colour - a photo-montage

Autumn is one of my favourite times of year; there's nothing quite like the emotional hit you get from the shimmering of soft shallow light off yellowing leaves - melancholic perhaps, but ever so romantic at Iford!

Here are some images from this year, mostly taken this morning, some a week or so ago.  And don't forget, Iford's gardens are open for two more Sundays this year - on the 24th and 31st October, 2-5pm.

Autumn leaves

Well, you certainly know it's autumn when...

Apples are falling, ripe damsons soften on the tree (looking forward to 'jamming' those), a misty 5 degrees greets you when you get up, and the first colours start to change in the garden.  And yet, summer seems somehow to be clinging on, for when the sun is out, it's fairly warm.  Still, it won't be long before we're raking and blowing the leaves off the lawns daily - a broadly thankless, but crucial task to avoid damage to the sward.