Mid September at the orchard

Over at the Orchard

So, S is away for the whole of September (*sobs*), so A and E went round to take a sneaky peak at the Orchard one morning in the fog. We thought the fog would make for some beautiful artistic photos, but it didn't really work so well.

Autumn is really set in! Everything is going over ready for planting out next Spring... Still, there were treasures to be found.

I counted 34 butternut squashes waiting to be picked! That is an amazing number.

Rudbekia still looking gorgeous in all their autumn glory colours.

Still some runner beans! (A didn't manage this year). Cooked up: there's nothing like homegrown. Also took a few sweetcorn cobs - ones past their best for AJ's chickens and a couple for A and J at 2CC.

Bright blue of the cornflowers against the brown of flowers going over. (Sorry it's out of focus!)

The last gladioli! Glorious colours to mark the start of autumn.

So, a little look at the goings on. S and R - hope you're having a great time away, thinking of you here.

Autumn approaching at the Orchard

The flower patch is losing its colour with the cornflowers almost over and the snap dragons looking sad. They have had a second flush in previous years but just one spike per plant this year. Cosmos still producing blooms and the scabious a late addition.

The last gladioli now picked, they have been fantastic. 

Zinnias have been a great success as well.

The stars of the patch are the reliable Rudbekia which are performing magnificently and profusely, providing daily bunches.

We have had the first sweet corn depriving the Badgers of their favourite food. They are getting revenge with the parsnips.

daily raspberries and the wonderful blackberries, so unlike brambles.

The magic beans never give up with bags full every day.

Feeling sad that we are off next week leaving the orchard in full swing but it's been a very good growing year, and fun to record it