Sorry I’m late, due to circumstances beyond my control, but here is my offering for Foliage Day in November, which was written last Saturday.
It’s a question of dodging the showers or rather, the downpours and the gales, to take a few photos for Foliage Day, so there are not as many this time. The temperatures have plummeted to just plus 5C during the day which is a lot lower than the plus 16C that we have had for weeks now. Most of the leaves on the deciduous trees have now dropped, but still the oaks are hanging onto their leaves. Leaf sweeping is just about keeping up with what has been deposited on lawns and paths, the beds will have to wait, they might get done, they might not.
Bergenia by the front door.
Following my usual route round the garden, starting with the front drive, the Bergenia are looking solid against the Winter Jasmine.
Silvery Buddleja.
The Buddleja will need cutting back to save the bushes suffering from wind rock, but at the moment I’m enjoying the leaves which are looking very silvery.
Cotoneaster horizontalis.
The Cotoneaster horizontalis by the drive now has Wisteria weaving through it. I was amazed when I saw it as I thought I had cut the Wisteria back in the spring.
Ilex Golden King.
The flowers of Mahonia Charity pick up the yellow on the leaves of Golden King holly. This combination is under the dead oak in the centre of the garden.
Phormium Yellow Wave and Acanthus mollis.
Moving on to the top of the garden by the pond, Acanthus mollis is getting too close to Phormium Yellow Wave. I’ll have to get the spade out and sort the Acanthus out, it is spreading too far. I had cut the Acanthus back but with all our mild wet weather it has put up some more leaves.
Zantedeschia
In the bog garden, Zantedeschia aethiopica is still looking good, but for how long, I’m sure it will suddenly collapse in a heap. I spy a lonely little candelabra Primula Apple Blossom in front, it has obviously been confused by the mild weather.
Circular lawn.
The circular lawn by the bog garden is absolutely covered with leaves, this is the one area that we haven’t swept yet. The leaves are mostly from the Field Maples which are in the boundary hedge.
Euphorbia palustris.
Still in the bog garden and fading to a very pale yellow are the foliage and flower heads of Euphorbia palustris. They look so delicate and I’m surprised they have withstood the gales we have been having, it must be more sheltered here than I thought.
Arum italicum marmoratum.
This plant seems to look good no matter which month of the year it is. The marbling on the leaves is so attractive and the birds spread the seed round the garden so we always have plenty of plants.
Acer Osakazuki.
Into the woodland, my poor Acer Osakazuki has caught the gales that have been passing, 99% of the leaves have been burnt, you can just see a few that have survived at the back. We had a beautiful blaze of colour for about 3 weeks, but with Abigail blowing through Osakazuki didn’t stand a chance of keeping her leaves for longer.
Osakazuki and Sango Kaku.
Even though Osakazuki is burnt by the wind, look at Sango Kaku which has been protected by the bay tree behind it.
Acer Sango Kaku.
This looks almost the same as it did last month, it just shows how much protection the Acer is getting from the evergreen behind it.
Acer with no name.
Our tall Acer, to the left of the archway, that was here before we were, hasn’t reached the colours that it did last year, when it turned a lovely burnt orange. The leaves have been falling before the full autumn colour had been achieved, but it still looks pretty, contrasting with the evergreens around it.
Cyclamen hederifolium.
The woodland floor is carpeted with lovely Cyclamen foliage which spreading into considerable carpets now, well, rugs !
Cyclamen hederifolium.
While looking at all the cyclamen foliage, I noticed that one of them was still flowering.
Phormium Yellow Wave.
We have another Phormium Yellow Wave which is in the gravel area at the back. We nearly lost it in the hard winter of 2010/11 and it is only now getting back to its former size of 6ft across. I think a bit of protection might be needed if we have another very cold spell.
Leaf mould
I thought you might like to see my piles of leaf mould. On the right the leaf mould is 1 year old and just about ready to be spread throughout the woodland where the snowdrops are. On the left is this years pile and we have since added a lot more to it. These piles are tucked away in a corner of the woodland where they can’t be seen behind a yew bush.
Since this post was written we have had our first frost, it was nice and crisp first thing this morning, everywhere with a touch of white sparkle, My Hesperides Garden https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/just how it should be at the end of November.
Many thanks to Christina at for hosting this foliage meme each month, by now you have probably all been visiting to see lots of lovely foliage, I must make sure I visit too!
I have to admit I was a little worried when I didn’t see a post from you; you have contributed so consistently right from the beginning of GBFD. I’m glad there wasn’t a serious problem. As always your garden shows the benefit of thoughtful foliage planting, and what a bonus that Acer Sango Kaku has looked so beautiful for so long. Temperatures have tumbled here too, no frost quite yet but forecast for this week.
Sorry about that Christina, I thought I was being so organised writing it early, but then wasn’t able to publish it at the right time!
Acer Sango Kaku is still hanging onto a lot of leaves, she certainly is the best of the three Acers this year.
We are back to rain and warmer temperatures today, but the crisp frost was nice while it lasted.
Hi Pauline. There is still some lovely foliage in your garden. The Arum looks gorgeous and I like the Phormium too. Probably not hardy enough for here, but I shall be looking that up. The golden Acer sango kaku is worth its weight in gold with such pretty leaves so late in the year. We were so lucky…. somehow the storms we had here blew the leaves OFF the lawn so we haven’t had to clear up too much this year!
If only the wind had blown ours off the same as yours Cathy, although I do like the mound of leaf mould that we are able to make each year. With the main wind direction being from the south west we also get the leaves from next doors huge oaks as well! I would certainly recommend A. Sango Kaku as a wonderful tree that doesn’t grow too large, when all the leaves have dropped, you are left with coral coloured bark on the new twigs, so it is a tree for all seasons.
My acer (unknown variety) is still clinging onto some leaves and lighting up the back of the garden. The hard frost on Monday morning was quite a surprise after the mild weather. Although we were visiting family in the north east at the weekend and there was snow on the Pennines. It looked stunning with the sparkling blue sky. Back to mild weather now though. You’ve got some fabulous foliage there. I love those cyclamen.
I can imagine how beautiful the snow looked with a blue sky Louise, I’m glad though that the wind has changed to the SW again and it is a lot milder. The cyclamen are spreading nicely, courtesy of the ants spreading the seed, more and more appear each year as if by magic!
It must be nice to have “rugs” of cyclamen. Whenever I see your pictures I always find myself wishing they were hardy here. I also admire the Arum italicum marmoratum. It too has gotten big and how nice that the birds have spread it around. Acer Sango Kaku looks terrific with the dark backdrop of the evergreen.
I also visit with good news. You won my latest book draw! Can you please email me your address? My email address is jenc_art@hotmail.com.
That is fantastic news, that I have won the book in your draw, thank you so much!! My address is on it’s way to you!
I get more and more cyclamen each year, thanks to the ants spreading the seed, C. hederifolium seem to be very happy to spread around, but C coum aren’t spreading nearly as quickly. Maybe the ants are staying nice and warm in Jan/Feb and don’t need to come out and look for food.
Acer Sango kaku is one of my favourite trees, we can see it from the sitting room and get so much pleasure from it all through the year.
You do have some interesting foliage in your garden, and an array of lovely acers, it’s marvelous to see some of them holding their leaves, just goes to show how a little protection goes such a long way!
Gosh….a candelabra already! Nature is confused. That leaf mold will work wonders!xxx
Thanks Dina, the Acers are just about hanging onto their last leaves, but I think they will soon all be gone. I think my poor little candelabra primula is thoroughly confused, I think it might soon regret it! The leaf mould is just waiting to be spread round all my snowdrops, they will certainly appreciate it, as will other woodland treasures!