Gone Walkabout

In one of my favourite films, Sue comes looking for Mick "Crocodile" Dundee. The doorman says he's "gone walkabout". For Australian aborigines, this usually means a period of time spent walking in the bush. For me today it meant "a walking trip" around my garden.

I decided to walk in the front, side and back, take photos of my late summer garden and make notes as to what worked, what didn't and how to improve plantings for next year.

Note: Allyssum like cool, moist conditions - not high heat and humidity. Do NOT grow from seed anymore.

Note: the true workhorse of the summer was red tuberous begonias. Buy flats and flats of these as annuals next summer. Make it the only annual front and back.

Note: Balloon flowers will re-bloom if deadheaded.

Note: After cutting down Elaine bed, check if the wasps were ground digger wasps and if yes, destroy nests.

Note: this fall or next spring, chain-saw the pussywillows.

Note: Skip the tomatoes and plant herbs in raised beds instead.

Note: Prune bottom branches of walnut tree so that they don't hang into and obscure the Feather Reed Grass

Note: prune Fairy Rose and remove purple Harebell to give the emerging Quince bush more room to grow

Note: move new Carpet Rose and 2 Lavender plants into sunnier spots

Note: Stake Miscanthus grass early in summer using strong metal stakes and wire, not string.

OK - notes have been taken and recorded! Now to enjoy these last summer blooms before I start the huge job of cutting down the garden in mid-October.

Please check my food blog - the latest recipe is Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Bacon Tart.

Ground Hornets

HELP!!!!! We have an infestation of black wasps with white stripes.  The more I read, the more it seems they are actually ground hornets. Their nests are holes in the ground. All of a sudden there are hundreds of them in one section of the garden and they're kind of scary. They apparently are quite vicious and can sting repeatedly.

Has anyone ever had these? How did you get rid of them? Google answers suggest anything from gasoline down the hole and lighting it (yikes!) to pouring ammonia on the nest. These methods do not sound environmentally friendly at all. Also, do I have to wait until autumn to try extermination?

Any advice would be much appreciated - thanks!