It’s Battle of Blueberries with the birds time

In the Garden
The recent showers have had the blackbirds scurrying across our lawns like extras in a Marx Brothers film on fast forward. They love collecting whatever they can, so are a reminder that apart from disrupting the dreaded weeds, the garden at this time of year can mostly look after itself.
With all that extra time in addition to wandering aimlessly around, it often brings our thoughts to planning what to do next.
When thinking about this, it’s a great idea to have some plants that provide multiple functions in the garden, like providing fruit and flowers or ones that are low maintenance and offer something all-year round.
The Tibetan cherry tree (Prunus serrula) has glossy copper bark that fascinates in winter, as well as providing pinhead like flowers in spring. Admittedly, the fruit isn’t edible but it is brilliant white, contrasting well with the bronze trunk.
Most gardens have at least one hydrangea and for good reason. There is an oak leaved variety (Hydrangea quercifolia) in spring, as well as summer, the flowers start as white but get progressively pinker over the years and have an elongated flowering season. The leaves seem to cover every shade of crimson and orange in autumn and are as vibrant as most flowers. They don’t even need much pruning and can be planted in partial shade as well as full sun, so are well worth having if you want a shrub that lets you put your feet up.
Witch hazel is often thought of as a cure all for aches and pains, and what gardener doesn’t need that!
It is also a much under-rated tree, given its quirky ephemeral appearance and its wiry flowers comes in varying tints of yellow orange and red with a heavy scent. Their leaves turn almost deep scarlet in autumn. It can even be put in a pot and is low maintenance, enjoying most conditions apart from wind.
Use your spare time after hoeing over the weeds to wander round the garden soaking in the sights, scents and sounds of it all while allowing yourself to feel at least a small amount of glee at it all. You might even plan a trip to a recognised beautiful garden to steal a few ideas while you’ve got the time.
On the Plot
It’s the annual battle with the birds for the blueberries at this time of year, even if you have them netted or in a cage. The allure of blueberries is so strong that I’m sure the birds have strategy meetings about it all year round. They seem to find differing ingenious ways of penetration every passing year. Hopping under netting, divebombing it or skilfully unpicking netting have all seen successful sorties in the past.
They are still worth planting though, not only for their fruit pies and avian entertainment, but for their pretty white flowers in spring and their bright red autumn foliage. They are hardy and come through even the deepest winter unscathed and are quite compact, so they can be grown in tiny gardens or in pots on a step. They do need acidic soil and a weekly feed like tomatoes when they’re fruiting.
In the meantime, keep harvesting and eating what’s in season, which seems to be most fruit and veg right now. Perambulate with the hoe followed by the watering can and casually munch what you can off the vine in the greenhouse or pea trellis. Clear away any scruffy or gone over plants taking out dead leaves from lettuce and cabbages.
Being on top of things gives us a sense of wellbeing and whilst there is always some work to do, it’s so important that we make time to get our heart rate down. It is possible to escape from the rapidity of modern life and not sprinting from one essential task to another.