Changing season - welcome to Autumn

Thankfully, it is now much cooler and you can feel the season turning.  I, for one, am relieved, as I have really struggled during the heat of this last summer.  I enjoy Autumn, so look forward to greeting those plants which come into their own at this time of the year.  Above are cyclamen hederifolium, a sure sign that Autumn is here.  I have several pots of them on the shady patio and they seem to be happy there.  The flowers come before the leaves and the leaves have beautiful marble patterns. 

Here are some others.

Also in a pot on the shady patio are some japanese anemones.  I think this may be Pretty Lady Susan, but am not sure at all!  It is flowering away well.  My usually very reliable japanese anemone Bressingham Glow, which is in a border under a jasmine, has not enjoyed the heat and lack of water. It is flowering, but is a lot shorter than usual and with fewer leaves and flowers.  

This japanese anemone was sold as Ruffled Swan, but I think it is Wild Swan, as it doesn't seem to have the ruffled edges.  However, it does have pretty lilac backs to the petals.   

It used to be in a south facing position, but hated the intense sun, so has been moved. It does like to be well watered and is quick to wilt, but that is due to it living in a pot (and probably needing to be divided!).

On the whole, it is an undemanding and rather lovely plant, brightening up a shady area.

Another plant which has been doing sterling service and flowering for a long time is Clematis Wyevale, a herbaceous clematis, again in a pot.  It will let you know if it needs watering too, but just quietly flowers away, with a slightly soap-like fragrance on warm days. 

The hydrangeas have flowered but fading much more quickly then usual and the asters and helianthus Lemon Queen were also affected by the heat and drought, so are smaller than usual, but with the recent rain, they have perked up considerably.  There is still lots to enjoy!

Welcome, February!

I am pleased that it's February.  While I don't want to wish the time away, January always seems to be at least twice the length of any other month.  I was having a wander in the garden yesterday and these old stems from a herbaceous clematis caught my eye.

There's something very sculptural about them.

Then further down the garden, there were some snowdrops looking fresh, elegant and gorgeous.  

They are definitely one of my favourite flowers.

Hopefully I will get out to see some in the big drifts where they look so wonderful.  Yes, welcome to February!

Resilience in the garden (part two)

Following on from my previous post, here are a few more plants which have done well during this hot and dry summer.  Above is Clematis heracleifolia Wyevvale, which is a perennial non-clingy herbaceous plant.  This one is in a pot, so it has been watered this summer, but I divided it in the Spring and put the division into the border and that has not had any extra water.  It has pretty blue/purple flowers and a scent which reminds me of soap.  Not unpleasant, just soapy.

This is Clemaris heracleifolia New Love which is in the border and had no extra water. It has flowered for a long time and is still going strong. 

I forgot to put this photo in my previous post - this is the back of a flower of Japanese Anemone Ruffled Swan - so pretty.

The ever reliable Asters or Symphyotrichum as they have been re-named (they will remain asters to me as it's much easier to say and spell!).  Above is Aster/Symphyotrichum novae-angliae September Ruby.  I love the helpful way their flower centres change colour once the pollen is gone.

Here is  Aster/Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Mrs S T Wright.  These two are great and don't get the powdery mildew that others may succumb to (yes, Aster/Symphyotrichum Little Carlow, I'm looking at you! To be fair, that plant is probably planted in the wrong place with not enough moisture at the roots...)

Liriope Muscari is the unsung hero in my north facing border. It is reliable, comes back every year, (needs dividing, but I am a bit worried about doing that in case it upsets it) and gives me the green strappy leaves to enjoy as well as these purple flower spires at this time of year.  

The flowers are really interesting too. 

Hydrangea Arborescens Annabelle, my favourite hydrangea, who usually appears on this blog at least once a year, will not be making an appearance. The heat and lack of water did her no favours and she is a shadow of her former self.  I may have to address that for next year...

The seasons change part one

Photo from royal.uk

Things move on and change, it is part of life, although a part that can be difficult to adapt to.  Last Monday we saw Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral, which was a credit to all involved.  It is the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one.

Friday saw the Autumn equinox, and the garden is slowly but surely starting to change.

My cyclamen hederifolium plants are flowering which always says Autumn to me.  You may remember I have increased the collection with a couple of little plants that were growing in the patio, having been taken there by ants.

They brighten up the shady corner.

Hydrangeas are changing their petal colours too.  This is Paniculata Pinky Winky, which has been lovely this year. 

The Asters are also in flower.  They have been reclassified as Symphyotrichum but will remain Asters to me! Above is Mrs S T Wright...

...and here is September Ruby.

Finally for now, here is Clematis Wyevale, with its lovely blue flowers and slightly soap-like scent.  More to come in part two.

Autumn leaves - real ones this time

The garden has changed a lot over the last couple of weeks, with the wind and rain.  Autumn colours are coming and going.

Clematis Wyevale has suddenly lost all the colour in its leaves.

Hydrangea Merveille Sanguine is putting on a lovely show.

The blueberries are looking wonderful. but it won't be long before their leaves fall.

A joyful celebration of autumn colours.

The lilac and magnolia leaves are carpeting the path.

The hydrangea at the bottom of the garden is providing lots of interest.

The miscanthus in the border is slowly turning golden.  Colours in the garden have changed more since I took these photos, but I am enjoying the display.

The autumn leaves...and other autumn images in the garden

Last Saturday afternoon I went in the garden to prune some of my Climbing Roses.  I noticed that my first ever successful cuttings (of Nemesia Confetti) were still flowering away happily.  The photo above reminds me a bit of this...

(Image from  http://www.queenonline.com/music)

Anybody else see that? No? Just me then...  moving swiftly on...

Leaves are changing quickly now and the clematis Wyevale is turning a lovely yellow.

Hydrangea leaves are also showing shades of red.

Ginkgo Mariken is starting to turn yellow too.

A little splash of fuchsia pink from a cyclamen hederifolium which is really welcome amongst all the autumnal shades

The blueberries are just starting to change too but will become more fiery as the temperature drops.

Autumn stalwarts such as this aster Little Carlow are still in bloom.

My autumn fruiting raspberries are giving me a few berries ever now and again which I eat as I wander round the garden.  I need to repot them next year and look after them a bit better.

There are the most lovely blue skies to enjoy sometimes too...

...autumn sunshine is always appreciated.

Colour in the garden

To help to forget about the rather unseasonably cold weather, here are a few photos of plants flowering happily outside.  This bright orange (I'm gradually starting to think orange might be a good thing in the garden) flower is Tithonia Torch which I grew from seed this year and which has finally started to bloom.

It is a very cheerful thing. 

 Here's another success from my seed sowing.  This is Malope Triffida Vulcan (a relative of the mallow).  This particular specimen is rather spindly and leggy because I left it too long before planting it out, but the flowers are fabulous.

 The colour is so bright.

 Even the buds are rather lovely. However, this plant is a magnet for slugs and snails and I only have a couple of these plants left, but I am really enjoying them.

 Hibiscus Syriacus Red Heart is flowering well too.

 I like the swirling pattern the unfurling petals make.

 Anemone Bressingham Glow is flowering really well this year with very tall stems.

My latest clematis (Clematis Heracleifolia Wyevale) is one which I absolutely love.  It is a herbaceous variety with tall strong stems and lovely bluebell-like flowers, which have a beautiful scent.

 Such pretty blue flowers.

 Finally, Crocosmia Princess for another burst of fiery colour.  I bought this at Newby Hall and it is a smaller variety but still packs a colour punch.  Yes, I am definitely coming round to the idea of orange...