A little more autumn gardening

The last leaves on the cherry tree

The Dahlia imperialis are now just ruins, fit only for the compost heap

The maple has been really good this year, the leaves are hanging on for a long time

Golden delicious apple

A little more tidying up today. The weather has been so cold  and wet for the last two weeks, but today was a bit drier if not warmer. I realised today that we're only about two weeks off mid-winter, and it will be time to put the garlic in. I'll have to get cracking and put lots of compost and bulb fertiliser in where I'm thinking the garlic bed will go. Much trimming back taking place; it's amazing how things grow in the summer and you don't realise how big they've grown till you need to cut them back. Trimming the overgrowth lets more light in and makes the garden seem bigger. There are a few things to be done that will require calling in professional help - a couple of bushes that have outgrown their welcome, some tree limbs to be shortened and the pear tree to be topped; it's taking too much winter sun away now and is growing towards the house.

And big excitement! I've just spotted the broccoli plants broccoling! Home-grown broccoli is something I've only tried once with little success. This time the plants look more promising.