Catherine’s monthly photo blog: November

2 December 2022

Volunteer gardener and talented photographer Catherine Brightwood shares her thoughts and photos from the last month in the gardens.

November was a very wet month.  Day after day of torrential rain has certainly restored the water table at Furzey.  It was time to get my wellies and waterproofs back out.  For me, gardening is not just for sunny days.  There is something wonderful about being out in the wind and rain.  It really connects me to the natural world and makes me feel alive.  The squelch of my boots in the mud is a sound which always makes me smile.  However, I discovered that my waterproofs are not quite as waterproof as I remembered, so it is time to buy some new ones.  When the sun did shine, there was a wonderful, mystical feel to the air.  There is something magical about a crisp, sunny morning at Furzey.

The leaves have fallen from many of our trees, creating a beautiful carpet.  A fleeting, colourful tapestry covering the ground.  With so many branches now bare, there are new treasures to enjoy.  Festive balls of mistletoe attached to their host tree, which have been hidden for the summer, are now visible.  In Norse culture, the mistletoe plant was a sign of peace and love, so it is fitting that we have so many plants in the trees at Furzey.  There is a new sound to enjoy this season, as the wind whistles through the bare tree branches.  Accompanied by the sound of robins singing out across the gardens, I found it really relaxing being outside this month.

Mother Nature has the best paint palette, and we enjoyed some more glorious autumn colour well into November.  The shiny, vivid red berries and glossy green leaves of the Skimmia shrubs brightened even the dullest of days.  The Enkianthus perulatus shrub in front of the tearooms also wowed visitors with its fiery red colour and beautiful ball shape.  We have started reorganising an area in the centre of the garden which has become very overgrown and wild.  Whilst that does have its attraction, we are planning to make space to grow some new specimens and re-locate the wisteria which has overtaken many of the beautiful plants which are already growing there.  I spent an enjoyable morning cutting back brambles and removing dead branches which had fallen into the undergrowth.

When the rain finally stopped, I had to get my woolly hat and thermal socks back out as it was very chilly.  One job which I very much enjoyed, was collecting ivy from the trees and fences around the garden.  I slowly pulled long strings of ivy down and collected them carefully in a wheelbarrow.  This wasn’t destined for the compost heap, but for the cottage, which has been decorated with holly and ivy for Christmas.  There is a symbolic meaning of hope in the fact that these plants do not die in winter.  If you can get to Furzey, do go into the cottage and enjoy the decorations.  If you’re fortunate to come on a sunny day, take some time to watch the sun shining through the remaining autumn leaves – there are still some stunning colours to enjoy.  As we enter the festive season, try and take some time to pause to appreciate the natural world.  Winter is a time for reflection and rest, so follow nature’s lead and take time to slow down and unwind whenever you can.