Moving On To November

As we move on to November I like to compare November posts in previous years.  Usually by now frost would have affected my plants but it has been very different this year.  We had a large amount of rainfall in October which is unusual for this area.  The consequence of which has resulted in a lush November garden.  I still have the odd flower in bloom and even the dying foliage looks more vibrant than usual.   Here I was frantically moving tender plants into the garage when in fact some of which could have easily stayed outside for another month.  However, I have learnt from experience you can easily get caught out with a sudden drop in temperature.  The weather truly has amazed me today in Kelowna BC 15 degrees +.  Early this morning I captured the sun breaking through the mist over Okanagan Lake.

I still look for deals at this time of year and the other day I managed to pick up a perennial container for $3.99.  I transferred the plants to a bigger container already housing a spruce tree and variegated ivy.  In the end I ended up with a euphorbia, ornamental grass, ajuga, heuchera, a sedum and some hypericum.

I have continued to enjoy my walks through the park.  The Avenue now is carpeted with a bed of leaves but over the last few weeks I have captured some amazing fall photos, one of which I have made into a canvas that looks like a painting.  I was interested in a group of trees that were similar to silver birch with interesting lighter bark and was inspired by a painting that was given to a friend of mine. 

Meanwhile in the Findleberry garden I have cleaned up to a certain degree.  I am letting most of the foliage die down naturally and will do more in the Spring.  I have learnt since living in the Okanagan, the more you protect the perennials, the better and so I have avoided cutting a lot of the plants down to the ground.  I have pruned the roses and will prune them again next spring which hopefully will bring on more blooms next year.  

Scenes from the garden – early November:

This time of the year I recall childhood memories in England of bonfire night on November 5th.  (Back in the 1600’s Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and this day has been remembered ever since).  Along with the bonfire there are fireworks displays and we often had comfort food such as “bangers and mash”  (sausages and mashed potatoes).  

To all my UK followers, Remember, Remember the 5th of November.  Happy Bonfire Night.