Wild weather and wildlife

Well, Autumn has come in way ahead of schedule, resulting in much dead-heading.  We really have been suffering with a wet and windy week, and is before the hurricane.

 

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And I found this nest in my tractor, which obviously means I am not getting into my cab often enough.

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Other wildlife hilights this year include this amazing chrysalis that turned into a painted lady butterfly. We maintain a healthy population of ladybirds and hoverflies in our polytunnel, whose larvae eat lots of aphids.

 

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I have not been able to identify this clever butterfly however….

 

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 Our course season has also  started in earnest, with attendees enjoying the end of summer dahlia show and some great home cooking. This Verbena always seems to sing, especially with all this dull weather we have been having.

 

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Ashley

 

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NGS OPEN DAY JULY 10th

Many thanks to everyone who came along to our NGS Open Day, it was a great success and together we made nearly £1500 for charity!  We even had special guests along this time, with some representatives of the Sonning Common Ukelele Orchestra to entertain us.

 

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Jo was working her usual magic in the flower studio…

 

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Many thanks also to our willing band of helpers, Graham (Dad) on the door, Marian (Mum on staff catering), Irene (plant sales), Sally (plant sales), Liz (Mum on washing up) and our neighbourhood catering team (Vicki, Peter, Clare and friend).

 

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