It is a lovely October so far in this part of the country and I am trying to savour every minute that I can. Above is a 'Magical revolution' hydrangea, slowly taking on some autumnal shades.
This is the colour of the sky recently.
The perennial sunflowers are still going strong, but you can see how much more shade this area gets now.
The sunlight on the miscanthus flower heads is always so beautiful.
The asters are also still doing well - this is Symphotrichum Novae-angliae Mrs S T Wright (she will always be an Aster to me!).
More gorgeous miscanthus heads...
...and again.
In other news, I have emptied my compost bin and sieved the compost. Those of you who are gardeners will no doubt be familiar with the whole compost making process and how to achieve the best results.
I had a few bad years, because although I thought I understood the process, it needed some tweaking. However, I think it is now working well. I have a plastic 'Dalek' shaped bin and you have to remove the whole bin to get at the compost. I left it for two years, thinking all would be well, only to find it really wasn't. The compost had condensed into a solid mass and there were no worms to be seen. I emptied it out and started again, this time adding a layer of paper and egg boxes in between the kitchen scraps. I also started to turn the heap a couple of times over the year. Adding the paper layers and turning the compost have made the difference. The resulting compost is now lovely and soft, crumbly with an earthy smell.
Having sieved the compost this time, I shall refine my additions to the bin further. While tea leaves rot down beautifully, tea bags don't. Egg shells take a while too, but the pieces that are left in are small and will rot down and also provide some air. Some compostable plastics take a long time to rot down. I am not adding citrus as the worms don't like it. Potato peelings need to be added in small amounts as sometimes they have a habit of sprouting.
It has been a real learning process but I am so happy with what nature and those clever worms have given me. The compost will be added to peat free multipurpose compost for planting and potting on and as a mulch around some plants.
Loving your autumnal garden.
ReplyDeleteI have several compost bins (obsessional beast that I am). Like you I add no citrus (for the same reason). And should turn it oftener. Himself bought me a rotating compost bin which (while heavy to turn) seems to work really well. And while it is off the ground the worms have found a way...
Thanks, EC. Nature will often find a way. I probably should turn my bin out more often than I do, buut at least I am doing it occasionally. If I had more space, I would have more bins, definitely.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Oooooooh, your compost is as beautiful as your artwork, my friend Ellie... each having their own type of beauty!! ~Andrea xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrea. I agree that the compost is a thing of beauty - certainly if you are a gardener!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Only a gardener will understand the excitement over compost, haha. It really is a thing of beauty when you get it just right, and sweet smelling too. I'm sure your plants will be very thankful for it. It's nice to have some crisp autumn days with blue skies and sunshine, it's the grey drizzly ones I'm not so fond of.
ReplyDeleteThnaks, Jo. I know conpost isn't necessarily the most interesting topic, but it is great when it works well. I'm with you about the grey, drizzly, somewhat depressing days of Autumn and Winter. Crisp, sunshiney days are wonderful!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
I am sure it has been a learning process for you but it has definitely been an eye opener for me LOL! I now know what my mother would go into throws of chatty joy about when she talked about her compost bin! Now she was a gardener and her unruly garden was a fabulous place to sit and chat in. Keep well Amanda x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amanda. It is a very gardening-y topic, that of compost bins and probably no-one but a gardener is all that interested, but I am so pleased that my bin is now doing what it should, I had to share it! Long may the joy of composting last for me!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Compost - a thing of joy (when you get it right!)
ReplyDeleteTeabags should start to break down from now on - as manufacturers stop using the plastic 'fabric' hidden in the paper. Not all companies have changed over but more and more are doing so which is encouraging!
Thanks, kjsutcliffe. I think my compost is definitely much improved now - long may that continue. I hope all teabags will be made without plastic asap - little changes are a good start.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Oh that's great news about the teabags - it is very time consuming splitting them open and emptying them out :0 I think we could fill a whole bin of them with the mass tea consumption in our house! x
DeleteThat is super looking compost Ellie! Good to smell and run one's fingers through :) Your perennial sunflowers are still going strong and the micanthus dancing in the sunlight is just beautiful x
DeleteThnaks, Lulu. I was so pleased with the compost this time and am continuing adding layers and making sure egg boxes and paper goes in there too. The sunflowers are just about finished now as they got rather battered in the wind, but they have been lovely. The miscanthnus is now opening its flower heads and going a bit more fluffy. It is such a good value plant.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
MMM, I think I am making the same mistake as you on the compost front. I need to turn it out, add paper layers and get some air going again. Jo x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jo. It has made a huge difference to the compost to add the paper layers. Turning it has helped too, but I have only done that a couple of times this year. I think the extra care and work is definitely worth it for the lovely end result! The worm population will increase too.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie