Autumn gardening

I've filled the borders with tiny little violas in the hope of some late colour for the garden. Lovely to sit out and have a coffee in the sunshine too (I have retreated before getting burned this time!)

Contemplating this year's garden wins and losses. We've done a lot more from seed than usual. The horses may have eaten the sunflowers but they were still lovely, and the nasturtiums have been great too - and we have two happy big basil plants from the seeds planted at the same time. Sweet peas went straight in the ground, and though 8 iron so germinated only two have reached any size and only one is flowering. Lavender seedlings were hit hard by the heatwaves, but two have survived- they're staying on the patio for now until they're big enough to brave the horses. And finally there are two pots with carrots in. They're a dwarf variety anyway I think, but I'm bot expecting them to have grown very big :)

Mostly at the moment though I'm glad I found out how to treat box caterpillars- and the end of the box hedge which was looking almost dead is now showing green sprouting leaves again, so we may have rescued it just in time. The other hedges are looking good as Mike cut them.back at the weekend- apart from the lilac which seems a bit sad.