October was a month made special by a bright, colourful Indian Summer. It made our tenth monthly visit to the gardens at Croft Castle special. Without realising it we had chosen the week when the property were putting on a Halloween trail for the children. The trail sheet encouraged the youngsters to search for clues, so naturally we had to do the same.
The first change we noticed on this visit was how autumn had taken over the garden, with most trees changing their green cloak to one of yellow.
The first border we pass on our way to the walled garden is the long mixed border alongside the drive.
We reached the walled garden which is the best part of the grounds, wondering what changes we would find there. Even though some borders were being cleared there was plenty left to attract my camera lens, whole borders of interest …………
………… and plenty of single plants still looking full of colour.
We were amazed by the simple beauty of these Japanese Anemone flowers which had just dropped their petals.
Plants can find their own niche however inappropriate it may seem to us. This bright red poppy chose a spot close to equally blue fencing.
When we made our first of this year’s monthly visits to Croft Castle we found an unfinished insect hotel, bearing the label “unfinished project”. We looked forward to its completion each month but nothing changed, but on our October visit we noticed it was finished at last.
We didn’t expect to see much colour in the Rose Garden but we were pleasantly surprised by delicately scented Rose blooms and the supporting cast of perennials.
The veggie beds were still providing late season crops with leeks looking particularly tasty. On the old apple trees clumps of Mistletoe had found a home.
We found this extra bright colour combination which lit up the whole walled garden.
Another Halloween activity for the children was to find big pumpkins hidden around the gardens. Naturally the children in us tempted us to find them too.
As the seasons move on towards the year’s end signs of plants closing down have appeared. Seed heads are so beautiful at this time of year. They look even better if touched by the hand of Jack Frost.
Our next visit will be the penultimate visit of the year. By then the effects of autumnal weather will cover the garden.
