More Autumn colour to enjoy

The garden is definitely changing and autumn colour is more in evidence.  I was stopped in my tracks by the fiery combinations of leaf colour from the blueberry Goldtraube and hydrangea Pinky Winky on the patio.  I had to rush in for my camera. 

Smaller things are also bringing joy with this little cyclamen. The others finished flowering a while ago, but this one is having a late flush.  I do like its crinkly-edged leaves too. 

The salvias are still flowering as well.  Above is Cerro Potosi with its bright fuchsia flowers. This one is in a pot and I really should get it planted in the border.

This is another salvia Cerro Potosi which is planted in the border and which has decided to grow up through the magnolia. 

Here it is again, with the last few cosmos and helianthus flowers.  I have been planting some bulbs and gathering leaves for leaf mould.  I expect I will be able to gather up a few more this week too.

Autumn is here

Autumn is definitely flexing its muscles and the garden is reacting.  While there is still lots of colour, leaves are changing, like those of the blueberry above. 

This is Symphyotrichum (Aster) Little Carlow which is covered in powdery mildew thanks to being too dry at its roots, but the flowers are looking pretty. 

Hydrangea Bobo also got too dry and has taken all summer to actually flower.  Now its leaves are beautiful shades or orange and red...

...fiery and gorgeous!

However, the flowers are still quite a pristine white, with touches of pink on the edges.  It makes quite a combination with the leaves.

Other hydrangeas - these are Magical Revolution ones - are turning their red tones.

Here you can see various shades on the different flowers.

Rose Dannahue is bringing a lot of joy with its pretty apricot flowers.

How's this for an eye catching duo?  Symphyotrichum (Aster) Mrs S T Wright and September Ruby. These are seedlings from the original plants and have planted themselves here, but they look good together, so I have left them.

Easter-ish round up

I didn't manage to post these photos before Easter, so though I would do an Easter-ish post. Above are the butterfly cakes with additional chocolate mini eggs which disappeared very quickly!

These were some of the cards I sent out this year and thoroughly enjoyed making them.

This card was for a friend's birthday and she really likes the slow drawing patterns.  

This morning, on my meander round the garden, I saw my old friend the unnamed fringed tulip.

A small Choisya 'White Dazzler' which I bought a year ago is flowering happily...

...as is Magnolia 'Fairy Blush'. I really should give this a bit of love and care - it has been somewhat ignored recently.

Finally, this morning the blueberries were a-buzz with bees, so hopefully we should get another good crop of berries later in the year.  We are due some hot (for the UK at this time of year - up to 27 degrees centigrade, which is ten degrees higher than usual for the time of year) weather this coming week, so I will be planning the watering regime for the pots carefully so that I make best use of this precious resource.

Autumn Colour

I have been enjoying the autumn colour in the garden. It has been rather dull and dry weather recently, but there is always something to lift the spirits.  Above is a hydrangea, with its gracefully ageing flowers, which remind me of old velvet.

This is Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky' with the flowers starting to turn.

The blueberry leaves are doing their fiery thing...

and I am enjoying these while I can - they will soon fall.

Salvia Cero Potosi has been flowering all summer and it still going.  The colour really is that vibrant - almost neon.

Then there is the elegance of the cyclamen hederifolium with the shades of green and silver on the leaves.

The 'cyclamen corner' on the patio is a very restful area.

There is always something to look forward to in the garden and here you can see the developing flowers of Hellebore Ericsmithii 'Winter Sunshine'.  

Finally, you may remember that I bought a large japanese anemone 'Ruffled Swan', which I had completely fallen in love with on someone else's blog.  I also bought two little plants online, just in case I couldn't find one locally, so now I have three.  One of the little ones has rewarded me with the prettiest flower now and this brings me joy every time I see it.  You can see the pale lilac/blue on the back of the petals.  Isn't it a beauty?

Things to enjoy in the garden - after Storm Babet

We survived Storm Babet but have had Storm Ciaran creating havoc in the South of the UK, with high winds and more rain as it moves away.  So far, the garden seems to be coping.  I  have all the normal Autumn jobs to do - collecting leaves, planting tulips and insulating my pots.  These will get done as soon as possible.   You can tell Autumn proper is here by the change of leaves - above is a blueberry.

However, there is still some colour to enjoy.  This is Salvia Cerro Potosi.

Rose Blush Noisette is also still in bloom.

Japanese Anemone Bressingham Glow has been flowering since July but the flowers are now more muted in colour than the bright pink they were in the summer.  This lilac-pink shade is still rather lovely.

Hydrangea Merveille Sanguine is putting on some fiery autumnal shades too.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll has put out one final rose which is beautifully scented.  I am enjoying it while I can.

Autumn colour - at the end of October 2022

It is Autumn proper now.  The leaves are falling and plants are changing their leaf colours.  There are still some plants in flower, such as Salvia Cerro Potosi above...

and Nachtvlinder.

Aster Little Carlow is coming to an end,

Liriope Muscari is still looking good.

Clematis Prince Charles has put out a second flush of flowers.  The drought stopped it earlier in the summer.

We have had the most beautiful blue skies.

Japanese Anemone Bressingham Glow has been flowering since the end of July but is coming to an end now.

Blueberry Goldtraube is putting on its Autumn show...

the two plants I have gave me lots of blueberries this year and are such lovely plants to have in the garden.

Hydrangea Dark Angel is also showing its autumn colours.

The low sun made some lovely shadows on the wall this afternoon.

The pyracantha has got lots of berries this year.  It has been with me for three years or so and is now starting to look good. It is against a wall in a north facing border, so is providing a lovely splash of orange.

Finally is the very exotic looking flower of Fatsia Japonica. It did this last year too - put out its flower just as the weather started to get colder. I hope it manages to last a little longer!

Playing with a new camera

Unfortunately, my Kodak camera which I have been really happy with for a few years, has decided to start letting me down over the battery charging.  If I charge it the night before I need it or the morning I need it, it is fine.  However, after that day, no battery.  I bought a replacement battery but it has proved to be the same, so I am thinking there might be something wrong.  It has taken some lovely photos and I have enjoyed using it, but I decided to buy a new camera. 

After a lot of research, I ended up with the Canon Powershot SX420 IS.  It is different, but it has recognisable buttons and functions.  It has mixed reviews online, but for the price I was happy to pay, it was one of the only options.

This photo is from the Canon website.

 So, I went into the garden to have a practise with it.  Cyclamen Hederifolium looking rather glamorous.

 The changing colours of  Blueberry Goldtraube...

...and again.

 One of the final blooming roses - Gertrude Jekyll.

 Lovely Hydrangea Arborescens Annabelle, fading elegantly.

Miscanthus Silberfeder I think, alongside Rose Gertrude Jekyll.  So far, the camera seems to be OK, although more practising is needed I think.  I'm not sure that the photos have quite the clarity of the Kodak, but time will tell.