OCTOBER 2024 GARDEN

We have been going through a very dry – and even very hot – period of late. The vegetable seeds I planted with such hope a few weeks ago either never germinated or were turned to a scrunchy dryness by the blistering sun. I weeded that bed this morning and have planted another scattering of seeds. Hope rises more firmly in my mind as not only is today cooler, but some rain is forecast for later on. From several tomato seedlings growing in pots, only two have survived and I am thrilled to see signs of tiny fruit.

In spite of the harsh weather described above, the potted sage is looking better than it has for a long time and is even sporting some blooms.

The pansies in the back garden have succumed to the hot weather and lack of water; those planted in a pot near the pool are still surviving.

The Yesterday Today Tomorrow shrubs are blooming well too.

Lastly, having been bare for the past few weeks, the Ziziphus mucronata is now covered with new, shiny leaves. Its ever-expanding branches are going to have to be pruned again before long.

HOW MY GARDEN GROWS

The bed needs weeding – and that will get done – yet I am pleased to see how good the recent rain has been for these daisy bushes I planted a while ago outside our kitchen. There are six different colours and it is my hope that they will spread out in due course and ‘flow’ into each other to create a beautiful carpet.

I mentioned the other day that we will soon be enjoying the blue flowers of the Plumbago. They started coming out this week.

Also in the blue range are these sage flowers. This plant has not flowered for two years so I am thrilled with its response to the rain.

Still on the blue theme – and another plant that has soaked up the rain and responded with an abundance of flowers – is the Yesterday-Today- Tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora) growing outside our lounge window. It was given to us as a tiny plant in memory of my mother-in-law and has struggled to survive during the last long period of drought. Now we can enjoy its lovely scent, particularly in the early evening after a warm day.

Rounding off the range of blues is this clump of sea lavender – also known as statice or limonium. It has proved to be very drought resistant and the cut flowers remain looking beautiful long after the ones on the plant have lost their colour.

To break the mould is this scarlet pelargonium. I broke off a stem of a plant growing in my son’s garden when we left his house for the last time ahead of him moving to Glasgow. In only a few months it has grown tall and strong and seldom seems to be sans a flower or two – a wonderful reminder.

COMMON SAGE

Sage has silvery or grey-green leaves and, although it is now cultivated all over the world, is actually native to the Mediterranean region. Salvia officinalis – how is that for an official sounding name – is more generally known as common cage or more simply as sage. The genus Salvia means ‘to cure or to save’ which is not surprising as this plant is believed to have many curative properties that benefits our health and general well-being. As it is also one of those staple herbs often called for in cooking, it is worth growing a sage bush in one’s garden. Thanks to its strong aroma and rather earthy flavour, sage is typically used in small amounts – another reason for growing one’s own sage as you might only wish to use a leaf or two.

As you can tell from the above, more than people enjoy sage. Perhaps this caterpillar or beetle was experiencing digestive issues.