Some slightly spooky pictures of the garden for a nearly-Halloween #SixOnSaturday. We’ve another major storm in now, that’s 3 of the last 4 weekends. Not much to do but browse this year’s garden pics as it’s mostly far too nasty to get out into the garden.

To start the spooky feel, wet hosta, yellowed by the first frosts, I feel they do look a little ghostly.

Now for some spooky veg: how about black tomatoes? I don’t think these will ripen now, but they do suggest a seasonal shiver, with the purple-black colour and the spider-like hairy stems.

This is the very best spooky veg of the year. I have a few ‘fat boy’ achocha clinging on in the greenhouse, they do look a little scary. Taste great popped into a stir-fry.

Not spooky, but somehow still delicious, greenhouse gorwn grapes have been very fruitful this year. I’ll probably dry another tub full down for home-made raisins.

Seasonal cheer comes also from the tiny lanterns of tomatillo. I need to get these picked and maybe made into salsa for freezing. Anyone have any good recipes?

For my last this week, not spooky, but downright wierd. I took advice from the Gardener’s World TV program, and grew ‘trombochino’ squash. A triumph! They LOVED the cool climate here, producing 3 fruits like this for each plant. I’ve hardened off a few, hoping they will still be good to eat as the dark days approach.

That’s my slightly spooky #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

My #SixOnSaturday this week is a climate change special. As we sit here in our 2nd major storm of the autumn (Babet this week), with the 2nd dump of ‘half a month’s rain’ in 2 weeks, travel and medical appointments cancelled, the wind blowing down a tree in garden…..I guess there is some solace in the fact that there’s some very odd flowering to enjoy.

The oddest flower currently in bloom must be this poppy, who usually flowers in May, and again in August if I’m lucky.

A late bloomer for me this year has been monarda. I’m not sure I really love this rather pale lilac version, but at least the form of the blooms is interesting.

Marigold are doing well, where the stems are small, like this one. Sadly, others have been smashed by the storm.

Two days ago I picked yet another ‘one last vase’ of sweetpeas. In October! This might well now REALLY be the last flower, as Babet has prised the plants away from their supports this time.

One or two snap dragon are snapping still. I caught this one as the first inch of rain fell yesterday!

Yet again, I have the privilege to show off yet another couple of dahlia. Having been a bit wind battered, these two are now safely in the dining room in a cosy vase.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Feelings of melancholy as the nights draw in are mixed with the joy of crips autumn sunshine, for a colourful #SixOnSaturday this week.

The last vestige of summer is holding on as the cosmos continue to flower. There’s a rather pleasing colour clash between the flowers and some background foliage. The first frosts are forecast very soon, so these bountiful flowerers will be gone soon.

I have not quite got around to sorting out the greenhouse yet. Consequently, I’m still holding out a little hope that the last few tomatoes ripen. A stripey one here is close to going orange….

Wonderful foliage is everywhere when i take the trouble to look for it. Blueberry bushes are one of the most stunning for autumn red.

A wonderful contrast is to be found in the yellow-brown hues of amalanchia, another wonderful autumn shrub.

Even the perennials in the flower border are a flush of exciting colour in mid-October. Here is the last flash from this year’s euphorbia. Tones of yellow to pink are an unexpected pleasure.

Last this week, before the blackbirds finish them off, take a look at these lovely cotoneaster berries. This bush sits in a sheltered courtyard, the berries last longest here as blackbirds are shy about coming so close to the house.

One of the joys of doing #SixOnSaturday is that I really take the time to look at what is going on in the garden. I hope you’ve enjoyed these six little snapshots as much as I have.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

What will they throw at us next? Some tempting warmth this week, but now there could be. month’s rain this weekend. For my #SixOnSaturday, here are some calm scenes and rich autumn colours for this week’s viewing.

I’m going to keep showing off the dahlias as long as they keep going. There’s still a sweet little pastel one having a go at flowering.

There is also a good showing from a spiky, cactus type in a glowing autumn red.

The veg garden has been productive this year. Kale has done really well, I suspect because there were so very few common white butterflies.

And apples, will anyone take them? We are drowning in apples. Time to take another bucket full to work each day!

And for my last image for this week, here is some autumn calm by the pond, before the big storm came.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot