When the curtains are first drawn back in a morning, the light is different, there is a golden glow now which is so different from a couple of weeks ago. The leaves are starting to turn colour and with all the high winds we have been having, they are floating down to cover the grass. Our first tree to change colour is Amelanchier lamarckii.
There is definitely an autumnal look about the garden.
Just one lower branch of Acer osakazuki has turned the beautiful red autumn colour that it is known for, all the other leaves are still green.
This lovely fern has new growth that has an autumn colour to it, the fronds are flushed with bronze. All year it has been putting up new fronds which have such a lovely colour to them.
In the pond, Pontaderia still has its beautiful paddle shaped leaves reaching up to the sky. I am enjoying them as long as I can, they will collapse all too soon.
Still looking just as good as it has all summer is Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost. I must sort out the seedlings that are now beginning to crowd out the parent plant, I’m sure I can find lots of places for them.
The path through the woodland is covered mainly with Horse Chestnut leaves, although I can see a few oak leaves in amongst them. The Chestnut trees are the first to lose their leaves but there is a long way to go before they are bare.
It is almost time to bring my pots of succulents into the conservatory. Aeonium shwartzcopf isn’t hardy here, so needs protection, as does the Aloe behind it.
Stachys or lamb’s ears, has formed ground cover in various places all year, I think the lambs are looking rather bedraggled with the rain.
Pittosporum Tom Thumb has made a nice rounded small bush, the new growth in the spring is bright green but soon turns to burgundy for the rest of the year. The peony foliage behind forms a contrast.
Most of the hostas are past their best now, but the ones in the bog garden are still looking quite good.
Still in the bog garden where the moisture levels seem to have stayed the same in spite of the heat of the summer, is Zantedeschia aethiopica. The large smooth leaves contrast with the smaller more ribbed leaves of all the various primulas in this area.
No foliage here, I just thought I would end with a lovely sunset that we had a few evenings ago.
Autumn has its own special highlights when the leaves start changing colour. The leaves need warm sunny days and cold nights to give us the fantastic range of colours that we always hope for each year. We have been told that next week is going to be warm again, but with colder nights, so hopefully this should mean that we will have some wonderful colours to look forward to.
Many thanks to Christina at My Hesperides Garden for hosting Gaden Bloggers Foliage Day once more, where we can see beautiful foliage from round the world, do pay it a visit.
😉 I thought you were a little early for foliage day – I can hardly keep up with what day of the week it is too! When I rambled this morning I was half looking out for possible photo contenders – but I need to go and look at my amelanchier now I have seen yours! I don’t think we have started losing leaves from the trees yet though, apart from those that dropped during the heatwave and old holly leaves that have been dislodged from the hedge. It’s fascination to watch the different speeds of transition at this time of year, isn’t it Pauline?
Cathy, my finger automatically clicked the publish button and I wasn’t quick enough to stop it! The garden looks so different now from just a couple of weeks ago, autumn has definitely arrived even though “they” say we are going to be back to summer next week.
You are so right the light is different as autumn draws near and comes into its fullness. Thanks for the day’s narrated visual journey. Blessings, Natalie
Autumn is a special time of year isn’t it Natalie, different from the other seasons, but just as beautiful I think.
Hi Pauline,
I was wondering why you were early and figured you must be away on the 22nd so posted early. Ah well, I’m sure we’ve all published posts too soon! I often forget I had planned to schedule a post and publish it instead.
It looks like you have more signs of autumn than we do here; so far I’ve only seen red leaves on my small Dogwood in a pot near the house. Everything else still seems to have its colour but you can definitely feel it in the air. Especially after the cold days and rain – nothing is drying and it just feels like decay instead.
I really do hope it warms up! I’m not ready for the cold yet 🙁
Beautiful sunset! September always seems to be the best month for beautiful sunsets.
Liz, no, just an overactive finger that I couldn’t stop from clicking the “publish” button!
My dogwoods aren’t showing any change of colour yet, its usually October before we see the lovely burgundy colour on them.
It’s supposed to be warmer next week, it looks as though you might get your wish. The sunset was amazing, but all over in about 10 minutes, they don’t last long do they.
I think we are having sinilar weather with a forecast for warmer days and colder nights. My Aeonium came indoors a few days ago, as it was getting drowned on the patio! Where do you put yours in winter? Mine goes on a warm windowsill and loves the heat of the radiators.
Those brunnera leaves look beautiful still – and the hostas too.
Our Aeonium Cathy, comes into our conservatory which I keep just frost free, maybe it would be happier in the house with the heating! By the time spring arrives ,it is looking a bit sorry for itself, but soon recovers, thank goodness.
Roll on next week when I can get a bit more gardening done in the warmer weather!
The Amelanchier is lovely Pauline.
Sometimes foliage can outstrip flowers! Gorgeous sunset too.
Leaves are beginning to fall here now. No sign of the Acers turning yet though.
I agree Jessica, who needs flowers when autumn is at its best! I spotted the branch on the Acer from the sitting room and went to investigate It was strange seeing just one branch bright red while all the others are still green. The sunsets recently have been stunning but so fleeting, barely enough time to grab the camera and run upstairs to capture it.
Well, I had better hurry up and write my post Pauline, doesn’t do to be the last to post when I’m hosting (pressing publish instead of draft is easily done). I love that Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost, fantastic to have seedlings growing, it would look amazing in a large mass as well as single plants as highlights. Thank you for joining in again and always with some beautiful foliage. The uality of light hasn’t quite changed here yet, but it won’t be long.
Sorry about that Christina, I realised what I had done straight away, but it was too late. I will add the link on the 22nd.
The Brunnera has been a favourite of mine for a long time now, I’m so happy it’s increasing and seeding true.
Once you’ve pressed that publish button there’s no going back Pauline 🙂 Some beautiful autumnal hues and a sunset to match. Brunneras are certainly good doers as they say – mine are just beginning to fray at the edges apart from the one that himself splattered with the ladder when he was window cleaning earlier this month which has looked worst for wear since.
I’ve learned the hard way Anna! What a shame about your Brunnera, it will be ok next year fortunately. A pity we can’t bounce back like that after an accident! They really are lovely plants for the shade, I’m hoping for more seedlings this year.
The light is different here too, Pauline, and there is less of it–shorter days. Really like your Aeonium shwartzcopf. Susie
Yes Susie, the days are much shorter now and the evenings so dark, far less time to do all the work that needs doing, just as well it is all slowing down.
Hi Pauline, your garden does have an autumn tint! And, it is as lovely as ever! I look outside every morning to see what color changes are happening now. It is mainly the dogwoods, but other trees are beginning to show a little color. Our temperatures are supposed to be cooler next week, with chilly nights and some days only up into the 70s. I am looking forward to that, and it should provoke more color changes.
Colours are getting stronger each day Deb, I think this year might be a really good one for colours! My dogwoods haven’t started yet but the viburnums are looking promising. Your lower temperature of 70 is our normal summer temp! Roll on fantastic autumn!
There are a couple of gardens that I visit in the spring and again in the fall just to see the Amelanchier lamarckii at that stage; I agree that they are quite lovely.
Amelanchier is such a wonderful little tree Charlie, blossom for the bees in the spring for the bees, followed by beautiful bronze colour to the young leaves. In the autumn there are berries for the birds which are usually eaten before the autumnal colours start, I think the best small tree for today’s smaller gardens, so glad you agree with me!
What a pretty sunset Pauline! The garden is starting to look very autumnal here as well. I admired a Aeonium shwartzcopf in a local garden but did not know its plant name- thank you! I love that dark color and shine on the leaf surface. I always like the paddle shaped leaves of your Pontaderia. If I ever have a pond, I would love to have some.
We have had some lovely sunsets lately Jennifer, I just have to rush out and record them! The foliage in the garden is becoming more important now that there aren’t as many flowers as in the summer. I must bring the Aeonium in soon, but our night time temperatures are still quite high for this time of year.
It’s always a treat seeing the changing seasons in your garden. My liquidambar and acer have started to turn and their are hints that the crab apple is on the way too. I do love autumn, although I would prefer yesterday’s sunshine to today’s rain and grey. Apparently tomorrow will be nice though. Do you know know to get an aeonium to produce more rosettes? I have one which is about 2 ft tall now with one large rosette. I would love it if it would start to branch out but have no idea if I can encourage this to happen.
WW, it’s so easy to get your Aeonium to branch out, it seems drastic, but just cut it’s stalk down to the height where you want it to start branching. Where you have cut it, 2 0r 3 new shoots will soon form at the top of the stalk and carry rosettes. The top part that you have cut off can be repotted after the base has formed a callus, just a couple of days later, and there you have a whole new plant! I have done this many times to mine as I’m always giving the top rosettes away to other people, which makes mine branch even more.