October Garden Flowers

At the beginning of this summer I was disappointed with the number of slugs devastating our garden. Beer traps were set every evening and my other half and I did nightly slug patrols. Suddenly though, we found the beer traps were being tipped upside down, and we suspect that badger was around again. No worries though, we were happy for any help with our slug problem. After deciding to keep a note of plants that slugs seemed to enjoy, we abandoned any idea of replacing them. We stuck to plants that slugs leave alone, or at least are slow to attack. Some of those plants are still holding their own against the falling temperatures. And the slugs numbers really do seem to have to decreased.

The viburnum is as good as ever. Definitely one to concentrate on again next year :-)

The osteospermum has flowered continually throughout the summer.

Ice plants are turning darker in colour but still attract the insects.

This little snail has found a safe place amongst the hydrangea flowers :-). Can you see him? :-)

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31st October 2024, I'm A Halloween Grinch 🎃

I don't like Halloween. It's origins or the 21st Century version. Right from it's beginnings it has been about death and spirits of the dead. I always say I'm not superstitious, but somethings shouldn't be messed with. Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, has been turned from a Celtic tradition to ward off evil and spirits, to a commercial nightmare. I know that many will say that nowadays it's just a bit of fun, but like my fear of spiders, its maybe instinct. Maybe its the near death experiences that TTP survivors have, a little too close to home. Winter in this part of the world brings darkness and cold, something that the Celtic people took seriously. If any misfortune befell them in the winter, they likely didn't survive. For a while the Christian form of All Hallows Eve became a time when the poorest folk would beg at more wealthy folk’s doors for food, in return for offering prayers. Now children are encouraged to trick ...

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Porridge for Breakfast, The Ordinary Life of a TTP Survivor

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