watchingthedaisies

The Garden in October 2017

October brought two major storms – Ophelia and Brian. Thankfully, my garden remained pretty much intact. This Sunflower and her cousins lit up a corner with their sunny smiles.

20171017_140312.jpg

A few hardy Japanese Anemones survived in the front garden. They have now gone to floral Heaven…

20171024_104841.jpg

I love Fuschia; I have four different varieties. This pretty pink specimen is still blooming away.

20171017_140350.jpg

Michaelmas Daisies brightened up a corner under a tree. They are wilting now, but I do love their gentle grace.

20171017_140122.jpg

Photinia “Red Robin” proudly shares his autumn hues, with ground cover from Sedum “Autumn Joy” and some contrasting grasses. I think they look well together. Don’t you?

20171017_140231.jpg

Grasses are a great asset in the garden. They provide year round interest, and highlight the beauty of their companions.

20171018_122200.jpg

In the front garden this Pheasant Berry – Leycesteria formosa, is still looking great. Although it is native to Asia, it seems very happy here in Donegal.

20171023_162652-1.jpg

I love my Rowan tree. It has yellow berries and beautiful foliage, which guard my front garden. Rowan is one of the trees associated with my saint – Saint Brigid. It is believed to protect against evil spirits.

20170930_153140-1.jpg

It is now early November, and the Rowan has lost all its leaves, but it is providing welcome food for a variety of birds. I have spotted robins, thrush and blackbirds munching on its fruit. Such a joy.

The front garden is having a makeover at the moment. I have shrubs awaiting new homes, bulbs to add, and grasses to divide…

I hope to have the transformation completed for Christmas.

Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.

86 comments

  1. What a lovely garden, the colours are beautiful! This is the first year I’ve had a proper garden and I’ve really enjoyed planting and seeing it change. I’m probably moving house in January and am a bit disappointed that I won’t see all the bulbs I’ve planted come up! Still, will have a brand new garden to get stuck into. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂 x

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thank you Angela. I have moved house quite a bit in the past but I always take some plants with me and leave some for the new residents. Perennials are easy to divide and share but yes the bulbs will leave a welcome smile in spring. 🌼

      Like

      Reply

  5. It’s strange weather this year: our hanging baskets, although a bit bedraggled and on their last legs, are still up whereas last year we had to take them down in September. The fuschia are still thriving and flowering and the nemesia are still in full bloom. I love your sunflower 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Brigid your garden is stunning. I loved the little aquilegia starting to come up under the grasses. The Pheasant Berry is lovely: those hanging racemes of flowers like purple hued Chinese pagodas. Did you know the berries are edible? (Allegedly I say for heaven’s sake don’t take my word for it! Actually I have eaten one….and lived) A bit disappointing: they faintly taste like chocolate. But don’t eat too many as they are supposed to have laxative properties (according to my sister. They are one of her favourite shrubs). The golden berried rowan is lovely too. Great photographs! Hard to believe winter is coming! Px

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Glad I made you laugh Brigid.. and no, no need for senocot… although went to a national trust garden today and they were growing senna… it is a gorgeous bush with huge yellow pea shaped flowers: certainly worth getting constipation for!)
    I am hoping for a nice mild winter too…I’ve got up the plastic walk in greenhouse and plastic cold frame- both great as long as they don’t blow away (I kid you not! they are weighed down with breeze blocks round the edges) and I have Already had to fleece the plants i nthem twice for threatened frosts- that did not turnout as bad as threatened. Let’s raise a glass to mind (and calm) winters! Luv yor mate P

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. I’m glad the storm didn’t destroy your garden. Love that sunflower and those fuchsias! I have fuchsias in a hanging basket and love their bright flowers. Thank you for sharing and stay dry!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. The sunflower was a lovely treat this morning! Love gardening and relish doing the odd one now and again which makes it more of a treat nowadays.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Brigid, I feel we could happily wander around each other’s gardens, chatting, sharing tips…and hopefully a slice of cake or two! 😀Your garden is lovely, the sunflower just stunning, radiant, whilst I also adore fuchsias and have three still flowering, the sedums are a wonderful plant for the Autumn. Your Rowan tree is glorious and how wonderful that it is associated with your saint name…this is a tree common in Sweden but not so much in England I think. Happy Gardening and thank you for sharing with us! xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. Wow, Brigid, this is an amazing post! You have such beautiful flowers ….. I can see why fuscia is one of your favorites. 🙂 I’m partial to daisies b/c of their elegance, lightness and my mom liked them.

    I work part-time at a place called the Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens (did I tell you that?), and the meditation gardens are lovely. Just showed two visitors around the other day who travel around LA to see gardens. It was such a sweet visit.

    Much love, Brigid. Hope you are having a great weekend so far. Love, Debbie

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. Oh gosh I love this post Brigid! And glad your garden survived the storms. Is is all walled in?? I’m thinking of pictures in other posts. It looks like a green oasis. thanks! Hope you’re in the middle of a fine weekend. hugs friend!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  26. Fuchsias are the reliable late bloomers here; I still have a fair number in flower. My Michaelmas Daisies, though, went over about a month ago. I noticed this morning a rose has started to bloom, just in time for the first expected frost of the year (which may be tonight or next month). That’s a beautiful display from your Rowan; your blackbirds are clearly more restrained diners than mine!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  30. Your garden is lovely, Brigid, and you take marvelous photographs. I would like to add some of the grasses to my garden next year. We have just cut down all our annuals and have had a big frost and cold spell move in. It won’t be long now until all will be snow covered and the hope of new life will lie in wait until spring. #Seniorsalon

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you Molly. A lot of my blogging friends are getting snow. We get very little in this corner of the world as we are near the sea. Grasses provide a good show all winter ready for their friends the spring bulbs. Cheers to new life. 🌼

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  33. Hello lovely Brigid
    Thank your linking this lovely post to #MyGloriousGardens this month! I hope Stumbleupon worked for you. I stumbled 3 posts; yours being one so congratulations! Thank you for supporting my linky. #MyGloriousGardens is going to hibernate for a few months (to write school reports and sort out Nativity plays) and will be back in March when I hope to read all your lovely posts. Sophie xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment