Another week of sunshine and rain, with more rain I think than sunshine. In spite of this I have managed a fair amount of gardening, cutting back, potting up more bulbs, planting plants and photographing plants ready for today. The garden here is a bit dark at the moment as the sun has dropped behind the ancient trees that are growing on the south side of the house and I won’t see the sunshine properly until the leaves fall once more in just a few more weeks.
no 1.
In my hedge by the field is Viburnum bodnantense Dawn which has started flowering for the winter. We will have blossom depending on the weather. If we manage to be frost free, then we will have lovely perfumed blossom all through until Spring.
No 2.
The driveway border is looking very different now that all nine of the Cornus alba sibirica shrubs are changing their leaves from green to purple. I hope they last for a while and we don’t get any stong winds to make them fall.
No 3
The fruit have split open on my Euonymus hamiltonianus in the woodland. We can all see that orange and pink go very well together, we should plant them more often together and take our cue from nature!
No 4.
Just starting to turn is Acer palmatum Osakazuki which will end up bright pink in a couple of weeks time. This time last year she had reached her climax by now, but the leaves were rather shrivelled because of the summer drought. Hopefully this year, with all the rain, the leaves will last longer.
No 5
Quietly changing colour in the woodland is Acer palmatum Sango Kaku, from the green of summer to the buttery yellow of autumn. This ones leaves dried to a crisp last year and by this time they were just brown, such a shame, but much better this year.
No 6
I think Acer palmatum Westonbirt Spreading Star has reached it’s peak colouring now and I am so pleased with it.
The colours are so bright, with the yellows and oranges shining out with the pinkish red, such a beautiful shrub, I think you might have guessed how pleased I am with it, my new favourite!
We have more rain forecast for today, but if it is clear this evening, there will be a partial eclipse of the moon between 8.30 and 9pm, wonder if the rain will have stopped by then? The garden is sodden, but I am doing what I can from the paths. The woodland isn’t so wet so I can always go there and do more weeding to get ready for snowdrop time! Thanks to Jim once again at Garden Ruminations where you can see gardens from around the world.
Some lovely autumnal colour there. I love the fruit of the Euonymous – pink and orange does go very well together indeed.
Thanks Graeme, its all change on the foliage front from now on!The wind has got up and loads of leaves are coming down at the moment, so hopefully I’ll still have some colour left by the end of the day!
Acer palmatum is such a delicate tree all summer long and then it displays such beautiful reds in the fall. I really enjoyed the photos.
I am so fond of the Acer family Topdock, and so glad that I have been able to plant a few in the garden here, they make this time of year so colourful in the garden.
It’s the time when the colours turn… This Japanese maple is truly wonderful( #6) and it has a very pretty shape. About Euonymus, another shrub with extraordinary colours for its fruits. We don’t often see them around here.
You are so right Fred. So many lovely colours from the trees and shrubs and the best of all are the Acers! I am enjoying the euonymus too, but can’t see that from the house, I have to go to my small woodland for that one, I’m hoping the leaves on that one will change colour too.
Such pretty colours.
Thanks Rosie, so many plants are changing colour at the moment, they all look so wonderful.
Such beautiful colours in your Acers. I’ve tried a couple in pots but they didn’t colour up very well. Seeing ‘Westonbirt Spreading Star’ makes me think that I ought to try again.
Thank you Ann, Acers are so reliable for autumn colour aren’t they? I’ve nothing but praise for Westonbirt Spreading Star, which is just a year old and am so pleased with it so far.
Lovely autumnal foliage, Pauline – and well done on bulb planting! It’s a task we all seem to be good at putting off!
More Acers are starting to change Cathy, so there will be more to come on SOS in future! I can soon have a rest with the bulb planting, tulips and alliums can wait for a little bit, tulips will be in pots and have to come inside so the mice and squirrels don’t get them, as has happened in the past.
Beautiful Autumn photos Pauline. The Westonbirt Spreading Star looks wonderful against the white ground. Not snow I take it? Those C alba Siberica will give a lovely display through the winter (as long as they’re not cut back lol).
No, its not snow Denise, but the gravel mulch that was put down when clearing the new area last year! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the present gardener knows what he is doing before I let him near the Cornus in the front border this year, don’t want them cut back again yet!
Westonbirt Spreading Star is a beauty, which I suppose you’d expect given its origins. I can totally see why you are so pleased with it. Are you planning to keep it in a pot or to plant it out at some stage? There’s a pretty impressive Sango-kaku just across the road from us but our own Acers are doing nothing; I’m hoping Orange Dream, which has grown well this year, might come up with something, but I’m not holding my breath.
I will be keeping it in a pot Jim, for a few years at least, might have to plant it out eventually, but when it was in its original pot, rabbits were nibbling the new leaves so I wanted to get it up out of their way! I also have Orange dream, new last year, but it hasn’t started changing yet.
Just loving all the shades of purple, pink and reds. Your gardens seems to be glowing.xxx
It’s a lovely time of year Dina with the garden changing colour day by day, so many different reds and purples!x
All of your Japanese maples are so lovely, Pauline! You’ve got me considering where I might be able to place a couple in our garden as well.
Thanks Angela, they make a beautiful contribution to the garden at this time of year, such lovely vibrant autumn colours. If they will survive in your winters , I would say definitely go for it!
Nice to see your autumn colour Pauline. I missed your 6 this week. Could you send me your address please so that I can send you the promised Lilium regale seeds?