The days are getting shorter and colder but every now and then we get a few hours of glorious late Autumn sun. And it’s when November in our garden really shines. There’s not a lot of floral colour around now, although our roses are still as valiant as ever, like this beauty in the cover pic. But I think the rich red and yellow tones of the leaves have their own kind of loveliness, don’t you? Not that Alan agrees with me as he’s got to sweep them all up, but hey ho. So, what’s going on in our garden this month?
What’s flowering in November?
There are still a few splashes of pink around, like the two fragrant perennial stocks at the sides of the house. One of the many things I love about gardening is the constant surprise factor. I had no idea these were perennials. I’d always treated them as annuals and sown them from seed every year until last winter!
And a few of our lavender plants are still flowering, along with our edible calendulas, giving us some lovely vibrant colour on a drab misty morning. Also, spot the tiny wild strawberry next to the calendulas – another surprise for the time of year.
There are a still some touches of bright pink from one of our reliable salvias and some little snapdragons, grown this year from seed this year. I’ve been deadheading and pruning both, and they keep on putting out new blooms. To be honest, I’m not sure how much longer I can fool them that their growing season isn’t finished yet, but never say die…
Last but not least, my lovely asters by the pond and my superstar shade-tolerant Geranium Rozanne. I think it was Gertrude Jekyll who said, “When in doubt, plant a geranium,” and it’s advice I’ve learned to abide by.
What’s fruiting this November?
Very little now, just some figs, which are still too green to harvest, and some rather battered but ripening grapes. The latter are edible and quite sweet but the pips are a faff to spit out so we leave them for the birds. Mr and Mrs Blackbird are daily visitors, which is very rewarding to see.
I’m not sure if non-edible berries can be classed as fruit but they certainly aren’t flowers, so here are some Autumn jewels from this November in our garden. On the left are some vibrant honeysuckle globes, and on the right are the creamy yellow rowan tree berries. These actually last very well as cut foliage in a vase too, something a little different from flowers 🙂
Outdoor garden jobs for November
Much to Alan’s dismay, not only is the grass still growing, he’s got masses of fallen leaves to rake up/blow away before he can even start the mower up. In previous years, we’ve collected our fallen leaves into biodegradable sacks for use as mulch, but this year we’re a bit behind on the job!
At the moment, there’s no point in cleaning and sharpening all our secateurs, loppers, spades, trowels, and other garden tools. They’re still in weekly use, but we will do it before Christmas (I hope). And give them a quick spray of WD40 as well, to prevent any rust forming over Winter. Rather like not putting dirty cutlery away in the drawer. And because Spring pruning needs clean and sharp tools to avoid bruising or otherwise harming your plants.
Sadly, the recent frosts have called time on my lovely dahlias, whose foliage has all blackened. They’ll need to be cut back to around four inches above soil level and mulched (blanketed) with a very thick layer of compost to overwinter. I never lift, dry and store their tubers over winter, it’s just too much hassle. If any die off (only a couple ever have) I just buy some new ones and grow them instead. Life’s too short!
But life is never too short for the little treasures that kick started my love affair with my garden, namely Spring bulbs. As I’m typing this, my legs are killing me after planting over 100 daffodils and narcissi in our orchard at the weekend. And I still have another 150 or so tulip bulbs to go…
To get the most natural flowering display, throw a few handfuls of bulbs on the grass. Next, use a long handled bulb planter to cut a hole in the soil and pop your first bulb in at the bottom, pointed end facing upwards.
As you go to plant the second bulb, your first plug of earth will be squeezed out of the planter, ready to go on top of your first bulb and stamped in firmly. And so on, until the last plug, which you can knock out against a wall. Top tip: resist all temptation to separate any that bulbs roll next to each other, plant them where they fall. Nature knows best.
Wildlife
All the recent rain has done a great job of keeping our ponds topped up with water. Every November, we say we’ll clear them of accumulated debris at the bottom. And every year we leave it because it’s where the frogs and newts hibernate. Plus the water is freezing already, so there’s really no inducement to plunge your hands in!
Soon it’ll be time for Flora to make up her homemade pine cone bird feeders again. A messy but fun job, and the birds love them. You can find our recipe here 🙂
Flora’s garden
Much like our garden, Flora’s patch is beginning to get ready for Winter. Her pond is still home to its frog family and we’re leaving plenty of foliage around the outside for shelter.
But the triumph (as far as I’m concerned) is her new Madame Alfred Carriere rose plant making its way up the back fence. I say new, but in fact it’s grown from a cutting I took from our parent rose last Autumn. I’m so proud! Come Spring, that should start bearing fragrant white blooms. And it didn’t cost us a penny. Isn’t Nature wonderful?
November in our garden
Well, that concludes November in our garden. This year has just flown by, hasn’t it? Before I finish, I wanted to share some pictures of our lichens. They grow all over most of our trees, but are particularly prevalent on our prolifically cropping apple tree. Lichens don’t harm trees, despite what people think. They’re actually an indicator of good air quality – so what more incentive do you need to get outside and spend time in nature?
Looking back, I think there’s definitely less floral colour around than this time last year. But in a way, I don’t mind. I’ve been so busy with freelance work, my blog, and a new job that I just haven’t had the same amount of time to devote to our garden. And being an unpaid taxi service to Flora eats into my time too. So I guess I’m reaping what I haven’t sowed. Maybe it’s also Nature’s way of telling me to slow down and enjoy sitting in the sun. A self-care lesson that Ginger is expert at!
What do you think of our garden this November? Is there anything in particular that’s caught your eye? Have you tried growing Spring bulbs before? And are there any lichens growing on trees near you?
Ooh, I wish our garden looked as good as this in November; ours always goes to pot! At least the mushrooms in the lawn seem to thrive at this time of year 🤣 I love your tips for planting bulbs in the lawn; I always wanted to do this with autumn crocuses.
One thing I have noticed, there is far more lichen on the trees down here in Cornwall than there is in Cambridgeshire (and East Anglia in general). So I suppose that must mean the air quality is better down here. It’s certainly damper!
Ah, thank you – we do get a fair amount of sunshine so I think that helps massively! But we have plenty of mushrooms too, haha. And I think you should go for it with crocuses, that would look lovely in early Spring. That’s interesting about Cornwall vs. East Anglia. Maybe it’s to do with the Atlantic winds blowing oveer the South West!
Wow! This makes a colourful difference to the usually autumn/winter posts! What a beautiful garden!
Kenna, lifeoflilyblog.com
Thank you so much, that’s so kind of you, I’m glad you liked it! x
Looking wonderful and colourful as always Lisa! I love the lavender plants! 😊
Love Lozza xo
Thank you, Lozza, we do too, although they are struggling a little now! x
There is nothing better than a view of a sunset and sunrise from the garden with the planets, especially when you have a big garden. Lovely post, I don’t know a lot about plants but I just learned something today haha.
Very true, although our telescope hasn’t seen any action for a while, it’s too cold at night now 🙂 Thank you for reading, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
You have a lovely garden Lisa. We have lavender in our front garden, but it’s pretty much gone now. Flora’s garden looks so cute, with the pond too! I know nothing really about plants or gardening but I like reading your posts and learning more about them! Thank you for sharing your post and your gorgeous photos! Xxx
Thank you, Lauren, I’ve been quite surprised by what’s still around, bearing in mind it’s so cold now. And I really don’t know that much either, I just watch Gardeners World, read a lot of magazines, and experiment – a lot!!! xx
I always learn from yours! Thank you for sharing xx
💖💖💖💖💖 xx
What a beautiful garden – I couldn’t do that if I tried! No green thumb for me! Kudo’s to you!
Thank you so much – it has been a fair few years in the making, haha!
Lovely garden, so much still in flower, most of mine in pots have finished now 🙁
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Thank you 🙂 I find pots sooooo hard to keep going, I gave up on most of ours ages ago – in the ground is far easier!
I always look forward to these posts! I love your garden so much!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Wow, thank you, Amie, so kind of you! X
What beautiful colours!
Thank you.
Your garden looks soo good for the middle of November! I can’t believe you planted 100 daffodils that’s amazing, everything looks so pretty x
Ha, neither can I but my sore legs are the proof! Thank you, we’ve been lucky with the weather recently 🙂 x
Your garden is lovely! I’d love to have figs in my garden! X
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Thank you 🙂 We haven’t managed to harvest any figs as yet but I live in hope! x
I feel like I’ve been saying this for a few months now, but I love how colourful everything is still. It’s looking lovely, as always. Flora’s little patch is fabulous too, we have a little frog family residing in our water feature at the moment. Not exactly what it’s there for but they get more use out of it than we do at this time of year x
Sophie
Ah, thank you, Sophie, that’s very kind 🙂 And your comment about your frog family made me laugh, how wonderful that you’ve got them though, that’s amazing! X
Such a beautiful garden! I haven’t even gotten around to planting a potted herb garden yet! Next spring hopefully we’ll have a veggie garden!
Thank you – it’s still a work in progress though, even after 10 years!
Whenever I see these posts it always makes me want to have a garden but I live in a flat so I can only have house plants! The flowers you have this month are so pretty and colourful even for the colder month x
Aw, I feel your pain, I lived in a flat for 15 years and only had a window box! I feel very lucky to have a garden to play with now 🙂 x
Pinecone bird feeders are among my favorites. The birds love them and nothing goes to waste.
The little fairy nooks in the garden are so sweet! I want to sit there and read a book. 🙂
They’re such fun to make as well, albeit rather messy 🙂 And thank you, I want to make more time to read books in the sunshine next year too!
Your garden looks so beautiful in November. Enjoy in these sunny days and amazing colours of Autumn.
Thank you – we are very lucky, and yes, we’ll make the most of the sun when we see it!
I truly admire your garden Lisa… I wish our garden look as good as yours this time of the year… I can see all your effort and love for your garden … thanks for so much inspiration… love your garden posts..❤️
Ah, thank you, that’s so kind of you – our garden is still very much a work in progress but it’s something that we love and can really take our time over so it’s all worth it. I’m very glad you enjoy my round ups too! x
Your garden looked beautiful even in November. Thank you for sharing! I always like reading your posts and seeing what is growing in your garden. Xxx
Aw, thank you, that’s so kind – it’s always pot luck what’s growing but we’ve been lucky this year! xxx
I like it, as I learn about what different plants! I don’t know much about gardening so I always find your posts interesting to read xxx
Again, thank you so much, that’s so lovely to read! xxxx
Admiring the hard work you put into your website and in depth information you
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Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding
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Why thank you, that’s very kind of you to say so, I’m happy you enjoyed my garden ramblings 🙂