THE LATEST FROM THE FIELD

 "As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see." - Vincent van Gogh

If spring is my favourite time for flowers, then autumn is my favourite time to be out in the garden "doing" in preparation for those very same blooms. Autumn takes on a slower pace; there's still much to be done, and an optimum time window to get it done in, but the days still have warmth, and you can tackle each job without too many distractions now that the event season is over.

The days are ideal for planting. They start with mist and dew, and as the temperatures creep up, it's perfect for sprouting the ranunculus and anemone corms and hardy annual seedlings. This is where I focus much of my energy in September and early October. Many of my hardy annual seeds come from harvesting seeds from my own plants. I've developed a passion for harvesting my own seed; not only is it a great way to save money, but it also results in a much higher germination rate as they already like your environment.

Then, in late October, the peony foliage will get chopped to the ground, and a few new roots will be added—taking the peony collection to about 46 varieties in all. The start of November will be tulip planting time, and then a break before we start harvesting the eucalyptus and selling the Christmas trees and wreaths. So, there is plenty to keep us busy over the months ahead!

Enjoy a cosy autumn.

Zoe