"There comes a time when autumn asks, "What have you been doing all summer?"

Last week saw us getting the sales area ready for our sale in October and a last weed of the gardens before winter. Propagation continues though we are running out, no have run out of space in the tunnels.

Spring bulb highlights - available to buy from the nursery now -

Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ AGM

One of the most popular bulbs to buy in autumn, these large deep purple balls appear to float and hover above the surrounding foliage in early summer. Well suited to gravel or prairie plantings and also good in pots. Good with a multitude of perennials where the foliage can be used to disguise the foliage as it dies off when in flower. Sun or light shade and well-drained soil. H 80cm or more.

Now that the weather has turned and the nights are darker its time to come back indoors after a summer of garden renovation. Next room to tackle is this room where everything has been dumped since we moved in, its also Davids office, where he works from home. So this room has to have 3 functions, a guest bedroom, an office for David and a library to house our huge collection of books! Watch this space to see if we can do it

These pieces of wall paper were down the back if the radiator along with the wall paper that was on the walls, all gone now, ready to prep for painting

Today saw our most recent involvement in conservation projects in the Scottish borders resulting in135 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, the bearberry plant going off to their new homes in Borders Forest Trust projects in the Scottish borders. These plants were grown from cuttings brought to us in 2020 and are the most successful batch yet (bearberry are notoriously hard to propagate) These are not so willing to root, but we are persevering using different types of cuttings. It's all a learning process. So off to hill sides in Carrifran, Gameshope and other BFT projects they go.

It's another fascinating dimension to the work we do here at Quercus and great to be able to help in plant and natural habitat conservation.

Isabel had the company of a wee robin in the herb garden today as she gave the garden a final weed for the season. Can't believe we're at that time of year.

Thanks for the video and photo and weeding the gardens this week

There's nothing like a day off gardening in someone else's garden Great to spend the day with Natasha and Jamie. In the front garden again and then removing all the dead wood out the trees in the back garden and then we'll go back in winter and thin them out and reduce the height. Lovely meal in the Coach house in Bridge of Wier to finish off.

Thanks to Fiona for being in the nursery today

Maisie keeping an eye on things

Mahonia in flower, has someone told it its early?

Smoke bush envy

Cutting dead wood out the fruit trees

Apples to take home

Lovely dinner to finish off the day

11 years ago on this day, him and I met in person for the first time. We talked so much we had to move to another cafe and the rest as they say is history Together we've been through the best and worst life can throw at us, 2 Jack Russell's, 5 kids, a wedding, 3 challenging house moves, running 2 busy businesses, the deaths of 5 close family members but we've got each other through it all, side by side

It's that time of year when the shaggy meadows and wildflower areas get their autumn haircut. Thanks David for helping get the first area done, especially before the rain started.

Look what I found hiding in amongst the vine leaves. Little juicy pops of sweetness.

A busy day off today, a domestic morning then off to Mclarens Nursery to have a look around and meet up with Adam and get a wee tour of the nursery and talk all things plants and running a nursery. Of course they are on a whole other scale than me. Their new greenhouse is an acre in size! The same size as the whole of my nursery occupies at Whitmuir!!! Photos to follow.

Then down to Kilmarnock to see Ben and Cheryl. Great to catch up with them and meet Coco the cat, a cheeky wee thing that seemed to like me, so all is well A chinese buffet dinner together before the long journey home. Tired but a good day. Always great to spend time with my boys and Cheryl and Natasha

Now things are slowing down a bit as we slide into autumn, I took the chance to head west yesterday to visit McLarens Nurseries Ltd near Barrhead. It was great to chat to Adam about all things plants and nursery although they are on an altogether much larger scale than Quercus. In fact the whole area of Quercus would fit inside Mclarens new 1 acre sized greenhouse! Fortunately I managed to dodge all the showers and we had some sun while I got a wee tour of the potting area, new greenhouses and compost making shed

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