Autumn is not my favourite month but .............

Autumn is not my favourite month, it is nearly always dull and overcast, more often than not raining and in our exposed location, very very windy. But when the weather is good, with clear blue skies and no wind or rain, that’s when I think the autumnal scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. 

Even in my garden there are glorious tones of red, yellow and brown, shiny plump berries and tactile barks to marvel at; so I am inviting you to take a tour and see my garden in its autumn plumage.

Edging the drive, the box balls provide structure with minimal effort, their small dark green leaves show off well against the carpet of leaves.

Further up the drive our Amelanchier lamarckii (here when we moved in) provides all year round interest, at this time of year the colours are fantastic – a patchwork of oranges and reds. Even after the leaves have dropped in winter the bare branches provide architectural interest.

The wood has an area preservation order on it, mainly sycamore with a few white beam and large hollies. This is the domain of the birds and insects, it is so peaceful to sit here with a morning cup of coffee and listen to nature.

On the northern side of the house is the courtyard.  Here it is slightly sheltered from the damaging winds which blast other parts of the garden.  Roses still try to flower,

there are asters (probably some Symphyotrichums, I haven't checked), kalimeris,

heurcheras and heurcherellas, this is Heucherella Yellowstone Falls (a trailing hybrid).

In amongst these plants are dotted brightly coloured cyclamen, their green and silver marbled leaves are a constant throughout the year.

Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon' provide more winter colour and interest. 

I think the colours of the cyclamen and Persicaria complement each other.  This border is automatically mulched with a layer of long needles from the two Scots Pines above, and here and there are scattered pine cones.

On the entrance to the Italian garden the steps are flanked by two quadrant shaped beds, 

here Agastache Apricot Sprite is still flowering its socks off, the orange trumpet shaped flowers seem to glow in the sunlight, it is tender in these parts so later on I’m going to have to heavily mulch it and see if it survives the winter.

Descending the steps you enter the sunken patio; here the raised beds receive a certain amount of the sun’s heat from the stone walls, the watery sun makes the flowers of Hesperantha coccinea shine against a backdrop of Nepeta Neptune,

Geum Tangerine Dream is also is in flower.

On the long green walkway down to Julius Caesar the many shrubs of Sarcococca confusa are starting to flower.

Also in this area is Callicarpa bodinieri, purple is my favourite colour but I do think they look a bit artificial.

Further down on the right you can see the bright orange berries of the Sea Buckthorn - rich in vitamin C – they are a winter favourite of visiting red wings.

Don’t you think that the orange and brown crispy leaves of Polypodium vulgare contrast well with the Sea Buckthorn berries, this common fern is gradually shutting down for the winter.

Heading over to the main lawn you come to the blue border – a selection of plants with either blue flowers or blueish tinged foliage.  The same colour palette is used to provide a sense of uniformity and coolness on a hot south facing bed. Here the plants again benefit from the heat emanating from the stone retaining wall, the blue flowers of the ever favourite Certostigma plumboginades zing against its maroon stems.

Also still flowering still is Salvia Amistad (another one to be heavily mulched in the coming weeks).

A little further along the border Scabious caucasica is being visited by probably one of the last butterflies of the season.

 

Two recent additions to the border are Festuca glauca Eliijah Blue and Compacta Blue, seen here is Compacta Blue – the morning sunlight doesn’t do it justice.

The whole of this bed as well as the adjoining pink border benefits from a south facing position, a slightly lowered elevation and having either stone walls or a wooden fence.

In the neighbouring pink border, side by side is Salvia Hot Lips (left) and Salvia Hot Lips (right), the one on the right has reverted back to a simple pink - I didn’t have the heart to get rid of it.  Don’t they go well together!

At the end of the themed border is Fuschia microphylla, its shiny cerise pink flowers remind me of little tubes of lipstick.

Finally, we come to the oriental garden, the Acers never fail to disappoint, their colours change from yellow to ruby red and to deep maroon, back lit by a water sun, doesn’t it lift the spirits!

Acers can always be relied upon to give a stunning display at this time of year.  Their tones deepen week by week; their colours mature and improve just like a fine red wine does with age.   In this picture the red bridge, Acers and Japanese lantern make a lovely composition, don’t you think? (The bridge is one of many carpentry contributions from T).  Barely visible on the middle left is a bright pink cyclamen.  Foreground to the left is Juniperus communis (label lost) and to the right Pieris japonica (it’s supposed to be cloud pruned).

What a beautiful photo to end on but there again I am biased as it is my garden and I look the photos.

OUTTAKES

I could not resist adding this photograph.  I was trying to take a picture of Salvia Amistad but the picture was photo bombed.  Allow me to introduce Pippin; she’s a rescue dog – a Parson’s Jack Russell – aged unknown, history unknown.  She does seem to have a lot of emotional baggage; not being left alone is one of them.  She likes to be with humans at ALL times.  Here she is investigating the plant I was spending a lot of time photographing