It is the end of September, yet we are still living our lives entirely outdoors. Though the month began with heavy downpours, we have since been treated to over two weeks of glorious, unbroken weather. Is this our Indian summer? Today, as I write this, the afternoon promises a blissful 27°C. I couldn’t be happier.
This afternoon will be spent in the home garden alongside Prins Timo, our Siamese-Ragdoll tomcat. I have a major project ahead: deep-cleaning the garden house storage. The cabinets desperately need organising so we can get everything properly in its place. I also need to gather and store the plastic pots currently sitting outdoor in the potting shed. The potting shed area and the space behind the garden house will become two separate projects next year. We plan to install proper workbenches in the shed, and I am designing a secret garden at the back. It seems autumn is shaping up to be a busy season.
If you want to see how our garden looked like in June, see here: The Homestead – The Garden in June
This space will be a secret garden in the making soon:
The Joy of September Birdsong
A September home garden is a never-ending joy. I treasure the mornings and afternoons spent sitting outside, listening to the birdsong. In the spring, they greet the day with a beautifully chaotic chorus. Every species has its own distinct voice, and I am slowly learning to identify them all. Though they are quieter now in autumn, they are still very much present—hopping through the branches of our trees and across to the grand chestnut tree. Living right on the edge of the forest means they have plenty of places to seek shelter.
This year, the ‘Coneflowers’ (Echinacea purpurea) didn’t perform quite as beautifully as they did last year. I’m not entirely sure why; they bloomed, but the show wasn’t as prolific or long-lasting. The hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’), however, have been magnificent. They still hold their white-green hue and haven’t browned yet, which is a wonderful treat as we head into October. Next spring, I plan to introduce a curved trellis support that bends toward the ground. Some of my hydrangea flowers are massive—larger than my head—and they tend to droop heavily after rainfall. My current supports are simply too low, so a structural upgrade is officially on the spring agenda.
The 12-meter side border where the Coneflowers live. The Verbenas though are luscious this year.
Elsewhere, the ‘Moneymaker’ (Liriope muscari), ‘Siberian Edelweiss’ (Anaphalis triplinervis), and ‘Darjeeling Red’ (Persicaria) are beautifully gracing the borders of the lounge and kitchen garden. The fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) at the back border has truly thrived since I cleared away the weeds last summer. I also introduced Lupines to the space, and they have successfully flowered. I can’t wait to see how much they mature and bloom next year.
The lavender has surprised me with an amazing second flush—even without being pruned last summer! 💜 This September garden just kept on giving. Now, with fresh new shoots already popping up, I’m looking forward to a beautiful ‘Lavender October.’ So incredibly grateful to sit back and cherish these gifts from nature.
Our Portuguese laurel trees (Prunis Lusitanica)—which we fondly refer to as our Christmas trees—are looking immaculate after a trim last summer. We recently added four more of these laurels along the south fence. Two are thriving beautifully, while the other two are slowly finding their footing after experiencing significant yellowing and browning. I suspect they suffered a bit of transplant shock, but they are recovering nicely, and I hope they weather the winter without issue. Currently standing at about 2 meters tall, my vision is for these four new trees to anchor the south fence, mirroring the three mature laurels on the opposite side to create a sense of symmetry, balance, and cosiness.
We also pinched back the tips of the ‘Star Jasmine’ (Trachelospermum jasminoides), and within just two weeks, new growth emerged! This technique encourages the plant to branch out. For a while, we wondered if the vines would ever begin to climb, but now, whenever they grow too long, I simply pinch the ends to keep them moving.
Plant Swaps for Spring!
In the front garden, I planted Hydrangea mopheads (Hydrangea macrophylla). I specifically chose this variety because while the Annabelles in the backyard grow quite tall, the Macrophylla remains compact—perfect for the front of the property, as I don’t want them drooping onto the pedestrian walkway. While they sit safely inside the border, I want to ensure they stay contained within our boundaries. This area faces north, but the setting western sun still reaches it in the late afternoon. I underestimated the intensity of that afternoon sun, and unfortunately, a few of the hydrangeas dried up and died. Come spring, I’ll be taking on the big task of transplanting them to the side driveway. That area is pure north-facing and remains entirely shaded by the house and garage.
Ironically, on that very driveway, I had planted beautiful moneymaker (Liriope muscari), which have absolutely thrived, producing lovely, upright purple flowers. This plant is incredibly hardy. They are still young and haven’t fully filled out, but they will eventually form a lush groundcover—making them absolutely perfect for the front border instead. I grew them back in Utrecht and fell in love with their reliability; they truly thrive wherever you put them. A plant exchange is definitely on the horizon for spring: the Hydrangea macrophylla will move to the driveway, and the Liriope muscari will grace the front border. They will look beautiful in their new places!
Finally, I’ve planted ‘Purpletop vervain / Lollipop’ (Verbena bonariensis) in the “three-island” border at the front of the house. I call it this because it features three large Taxus box borders anchored by a long horizontal border. The horizontal sections feature tall Switchgrasses (Panicum Virgatum), and the addition of the Verbena will lend a beautifully airy, prairie-style aesthetic. I’m also contemplating adding some purple Coneflowers and Calamintha Nepeta ‘White Cloud’ to the front, and I plan to relocate some of the Salvias to the 12-meter side border. And perhaps I may want to add white Coneflowers to the 12-meter side border as well.
All of these home garden plans and major shifts will take place next year. It is shaping up to be an incredibly busy spring, but I can’t wait to see it come together.
Check out my new kitchen garden (still a work in progress though!) here: From Dream to Reality: Our New Kitchen Garden (and a 3-Month Greenhouse Nightmare!)
Happy Pottering!
With love from Jo