Halloween Happenings

Be prepared to be scared.
Halloween has arrived in the Artful Garden. The scarecrows are in fancy dress.

Bobby Barley creating mischief

The wedding couple now have Halloween bridesmaids

I have decorated a homegrown pumpkin.

Surrounded by orchard apples and cardoon flowers

I love this flamingo.

Rink a dink pink

We had a holiday in the Peak District. A view from the Roaches.

Lovely views

An unusual tree trunk.

Seeing double

A long and winding road.

A drunkards path

There were some very steep rocks.

Look at the layering of the rock formation

 More can people have arrived in the Artful Garden . 

Can people and a bird. I made these with some children

A close up of a snail.

Opalescent shell

 

If you can't move it. Build around it.

Rock of ages

Tatton Park and Beyond

I have been busy in my gardens trying to keep on top of the weeds and harvesting, peas, beans, turnips, potatoes and cabbage.

I visited the Tatton Park Flower Show. I always love the art work on display.

All made from chains

This is a metal fountain. Truly beautiful.

A floral peacock

Daisy the elephant

Crochet barrow

A metal horse

A view from Settle station. 

Looking northbound

The whole town was decorated with plantpots.

How tickled I am

Bee excited

Plant pot horse

I made this floral wreath for the Cumbria in Bloom visit.

A decoration for the gate into the Artful Garden

An Eden benchmark at Appleby.

A primrose

 A plague mask in Hexham jail.

They put herbs in the beak to try and disguise the smell of the plague

  

Hot, Hot, hot

I have been busy trying to garden in the very hot weather. I am back blogging again. It has been very difficultt plant seedlings as the sun is so hot they just wither.

The Michaelmas daisies are in full bloom in the Artful Garden. I like to see them billowing over the path.

Daisies and red campion

The runner beans are making slow progress.

Where is Jack?

The Mock Orange smells beautiful.

Beautiful perfume

I linseed when it is in flower.

Can you see the pheasant?

The clematis at the front gate to the Artful Garden.

Deep purple hues

I have been redecorating my cans.

Can art

A wild orchid.

Intense pink

The scarecrows have all had a makeover.

Boozy Floosie

Bobby Barley, an English supporter

Crazie Maisie, Looby Loo and Charlie Barley

The Forth Road bridge.

Very dramatic

Rosebay willowherb is now in flower in the hedgerows.

Pink spires

The back border in my home garden.

Shades of pink

Boats and Bounty

We have been away on our canal boat for the last two weeks and had lovely sunny weather. On our return all the seedlings in the greenhouse have grown like topsy. I have 40 seed trays to plant out. At home the weather was also hot and dry so the ground is now concrete. I am having to water it first before I can get a spade into it. This weekend is a big planting session. I also need to restructure some of my flower beds so I am on a gardening marathon.

There are many pretty cottages alongside the canal that were former canal workers homes.

 A waterside residence 

Traditional boat painting. Roses and Castles.

It is not known why they are painted in this fashion

We travelled along the Oxford Canal which twists and turns and there are many bridges.

The bridges are only just wide enough to take a boat and sometimes they are on a sharp bend

A canal signpost.

How many miles

Some locks are very deep. At these the paddles are very heavy to lift.

Sutton lock is 12 foot deep

 The forgetmenots are looking beautiful in the Artful Garden.

A carpet of blue

I love pink campions.

Vivid pink

The hellebore is in full flower.

The flowers have a hint of green

Fruit is forming on the blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes. The decorative red currant bush looks and smells lovely.

A unique perfume

We have made a tent to warm up the ground for the sweetcorn. As it happens with the hot weather we did not need too.

We are planting out the sweetcorn over the next few days