Wednesday 22 August 2018

The changing colours of late summer

 There is no denying it, late summer is here.  The pastel pinks of early summer are being replace with deeper, richer tones.  Despite the heat and drought-like conditions of July, the garden has come through relatively unscathed.  Above is fuchsia 'Rivendell', bought at RHS Chatsworth last year and finally repotted.
 Japanese anemone 'Bressingham Glow' which is a reliable flowerer in my garden.
 The two crocosmia 'Emily Mackenzie' which I planted in the borders are one of the only casualties in the garden. Their leaves are brown and crispy.  The one above is in a pot and has been watered.  I did water the ones in the border, but it didn't do any good. I shall have to see if they grow next year or whether they have died.
 Another crocosmia, also in a pot.
 Penstemon Andenken an Friedrich Hahn, also know as Garnet, has flowered well all through the summer.  Even the plant in the border has done well.
 A deep red cosmos - possibly Rubenza.
The blueberries have also done well and have been fruiting since July. I get this many berries every two days or so and have several bags full in the freezer.  The plants are all over three years old, so the berry production is gaining with their maturity. 
After the heat this July, I have decided that I must be a Spring and Autumn person - I like warmth but not heat.  It is cooling down again now and I am finding it much more pleasant.   

8 comments:

  1. Love the rich and vibrant colours here. A true treat.
    Sadly our summers are such that those colours are rapidly replaced with ochre shades as the plants and the ground crispify.
    Summer is my least favourite season and I dread its return.

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    1. Thanks, EC.
      I definitely could not cope with your summer temperatures. This summer in the UK was much too hot and humid for me. I am looking forward to our autumn and am hoping that there will be some good autumn colour - especially now that I have a Nandina and two dwarf ginkgos. The hydrangeas are starting to take on their old velvet shades now too.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Beautiful flowers and lovely colours, your garden must be a riot of textures and colours. We are still a bit crispy, although we did have a couple of storms which actually reached us, so everything got a shower, including cleaning the car! xcx

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    1. Thanks, Chrissie. I am pleased that the UK weather has taken on a more autumnal feel and we are getting some rain again. I wouldn't be able to manage in a hot country!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. Things are changing here I notice. The dry summer with no rain didn't help the plants to keep going. All those blueberries will keep you fit, lol
    Briony
    x

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    1. Thanks, Briony. The blueberries have gone into the freezer for now. I just wish I liked the raw berries more than I do! The garden has certainly enjoyed the recent rain although the poor shrivelled crocosmia don't look any better! I may need to dig them up and put them somewhere else, or improve the water retention in the border.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Nice vibrant colors here. They make such beautiful photos.

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    1. Thanks, Jamie and welcome. The colours are deeper and richer than the early summer and show that Autumn is not far away.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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