I woke up to thick mist or fog this morning, but the sun has broken through and it is going to be another hot day.We have had a week of boiling hot sunshine, too hot for me I’m afraid, sorry to complain, but I can’t work beyond 11 am as it’s just far too hot! Plants seem to be coping though, I’m sure they would like to move into the shade along side me, but they are stuck in the sunshine.
My six for this week are very autumnal, stocking up the larder for the wildlife. I’m hoping that my little dormouse has a good feed before hibernating for the next six months.
No 1
Cotoneaster horizontalis is scrambling up the kitchen wall. It has grown quite large and is beginning to lean away from the wall in spite of wires trying to hold it in place. I will have to prune it back, but will let the birds enjoy the berries first.
No 2
Pyracantha is another plant that needs a good cut back. I have asked so many times for this to be pruned back, but nothing has been done so far. Again, I will let the birds enjoy the berries, then it must be taken in hand, hopefully this present gardener will do it for me.
No 3
Arum italicaum marmoratum has now changed from beautiful variegated leaves to spires of bright red berries which can be seen from the house, they really do shine out of the darkness in the woodland.
No 4.
Rosa glauca is having its second spot in the limelight. The small single flowers are lovely in early summer, but now they take on a different look, almost like Christmas decorations. The birds eat the rose hips but I never find any seedlings unfortunately.
No 5
The hedge under the kitchen window is Lonicera nitida, which I have grown from cuttings from just one plant. The tiny white flowers in the spring are now followed by these tiny round purple fruits. Usually I see Blackbirds junping up and down trying to get them while I’m washing the dishes.
no 6
Purple berberis on the front drive is usually dripping with masses of red berries, but someone’s gardener decided to cut it and 2 others back quite hard, poor birds won’t get nearly as many berries now!
Can I squeeze another one in without Jim noticing?!
Not ready yet, but the yew in the back garden is covered with tiny berries that will soon turn red and look like very natural Christmas decorations. I’m sure you will see them again when they have changed colour. I think they look like tiny little acorns, what do you think?
That’s my six plus one for this week, the plants are looking more autumnal as the days go by even though we are having a mini heatwave! Leaves are starting to change colour, soon my six will all be about autumn tints. The borders are now showing gaps where they need improving so lots of notes are being made, lists written and soon orders will be placed for lots of new plants to be bought or seeds to be sown and cuttings taken.
Once more thanks go to Jim at Garden Ruminations for hosting, it is always worth paying him a visit to see what is happening in gardens around the world.
Lovely to see so many berries and hips. I must admit I don’t miss my old Pyracantha when it comes to pruning (we had to get rid of it for the new fence) but I do miss watching the birds enjoying its berries. I had no idea Lonicera nitida produced such strikingly coloured berries.
If I can’t get anyone to prune the pyracantha on a regular basis Graeme, then I think it will have to go, it will be a shame though as the birds do enjoy the berries. I didn’t know about the berries either, until I saw the blackbirds jumping up and down and then trying to eat something inside the hedge, had to go and have a look to see what they were up to!
Love all your berries, your garden must be popular with the wildlife! 🙂💞🌸 That Rosa glauca has coloured up in a Christmasy fashion! Love it.
Yes Sarah, my garden is very popular with all sorts of wildlife, I have planted lots of plants just for them, it has turned into my own nature reserve!
What a fantastic number of berries.
Yes, and it gets better each year! If you have the food for the wildlife, the wildlife will come and they do!
The wildlife must love your garden, all that lovely grub. Pyracantha is wonderful but so spikey I avoid going to close to admire it. Your Rosa glauca hips are lovely, I do like this rose, such a delicate beauty. Stay cool as you can!
I think the wildlife is very happy with what I have made here Gill, it was almost just a field of grass when we moved here over 30 yrs ago and the wildlife was almost non existant. It is so different now, quite often I feel as though I am the intruder! I’m staying nice and cool inside the house with a nice breeze blowing through it, no more work to be done today.
You’ve certainly got great winter reserves for your visiting wildlife friends. Interesting to see which berries get eaten in what order … I’m guessing: arum, cotoneaster, berberis, pyrancantha, rose hips, yew??? 😉
The books all say that the red berries get eaten first Allison, but I find it is the orange pyracantha that goes first, the birds haven’t read the books.The cotoneaster gets stripped very quickly, but I will have to keep watch and make a note this time so I can let you know!
Lovely colors! My elderberries seem to be going away, hoping the birds are getting them – I can’t see the bush unless I am outside, so some may be eaten. There is a mountain ash next door and if you happen to be out at the right moment on the right day, you will see cedar waxwings gorging on the berries. I am even more shameful, I went back and added two more pictures to my “six” because I found a praying mantis in the yard…I also count multiple shots of the same critter as one – otherwise I would have to admit to posting nine pictures today…
Cedar waxwings, fantastic Elizabeth, we get them over here when it is really cold in the winter, they migrate from Scandinavia so are mostly seen on the east coast of the UK. I think we all try to sneek in an extra photo or two, even Jim does it sometimes!
Very beautiful berries that those of Lonicera nitida… the bright colour is attractive ( for birds too). Nice choice this week
With clipping the hedge, the Lonicera berries aren’t seen on the outside Fred, the birds have to search for them. Glad you like them as I didn’t have any new flowers to show!
Same as you Pauline, I don’t like being in direct sun, but I’ve loved this week of heat and sun – it’s had the effect of making me abandon the garden and sit in the shade and work on other matters. I’ve enjoyed that immensely. What a great collection of berries, your Rosa glauca is gorgeous and really does have a Christmassy look. My Berberis never has berries – yours look fabulous.
You can’t beat sitting in the shade with a good book and a long cold drink Catherine! All the berries are usually gone before the end of the year, I wish the birds would leave some for when we have our colder months in January and February, maybe I ought to freeze some!
I’ve never noticed berberis berries, they’re attractive. Too bad about the extra trim but hope things will be okay next year.
They are attractive little berries aren’t they Susie. I thought the gardener being trained by the RHS would have pruned the bushes sympathetically and wouldn’t have needed telling, I’ll make sure I explain fully next year!
Your garden really is a delicatess for the wildlife. Of course they eat it all now and then they’ll rely on you to get them through the colder months.The Yew berries really do look like little acorns, something I’ve never noticed before. Do the wildlife leave them well alone?
Once the yew berries turn red Denise, the birds soon polish them off. The birds certainly know that I will provide food and not just in the winter, every morning they are lined up waiting for me to put out their breakfast, they have me well trained!
Yes, the berries on your “sneaky seventh” yew do look like mini acorns! The other berries look like a wonderful feast for the wildlife, too, it’s very impressive.
The “mini acorns” on the yew will look totally different when they change to red Helen. I try to provide plenty of food for the birds and small mammals, but they eat it all so quickly.
What a glorious selection of berries – those on the L nitida are fascinating!
Thanks Cathy, the lonicera berries are certainly unusual.
Definitely moving on with the seasons with your berry laden post. I’ve not seen lonicera berries before, as I must cut back the growth each year and remove them before they have a chance to form.
I’m assuming Catharine, that with trimming the hedge back, any flowers are cut away so berries only form if they are inside the hedge, it was the blackbirds antics that drew my attention to them.
Great minds and all 😀 I love the color on those Lonicera berries. Our honeysuckle didn’t flower at all this year, which was rather disappointing. Might have to give it a severe chop and move it to a different location. Going to need to remember to take a picture of rose hips for next week, now that you’ve reminded me. I do love seeing everything covered in fruit this time of year, and am happy to know that your wildlife (and ours too!) will be well fed this winter.
Yes, we’re obviously both keen on the wildlife that come into our gardens Angela. I have noticed another 4 shrubs that have berries, but they aren’t quite ready to included in SOS, maybe in a couple of weeks.
It’s been far too hot here too, now we’re back to endless rain. What a delightful range of berries, the wildlife certainly will be happy.xxx
I try to give the birds and little mammals natural food for as long as possible Dina, trouble is they eat it all far too quickly before the worst of the weather comes, then it is up to me!x