The garden at the end of November

The garden is starting to settle down after the unusual heat of the last summer and then the copious amounts of rain over the last month or so.  The Fatsia japonica is in flower again - seemingly too late for insects and probably going to be frosted soon too.

Camellia SasanquaYoimachi is in flower too. It is supposed to flower from now onwards, but last year it didn't flower until Spring.  It has such delicate colours in the flowers and provides a splash of brightness at the rather dark bottom of the garden.

The buds are beautiful too.

Salvia microphylla Cerro Potosi has been an absolute star this year, with its small bright fuchsia flowers. It started to flower in July and has continued until now.  I have two plants in pots and they are a little straggly, but I don't mind that when they are such good flowerers.  I am debating whether I can squeeze one into the border...  They are hardy down to about minus 10 degrees C, so I am hoping they will survive the winter.

It is always nice to welcome a drop of sunshine into the garden at the approaching darkest time of year, in the form of winter flowering jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum.  Another straggly looking shrub in habit but I love it nonetheless.  (Note to self - if I occasionally pruned it, it might look less straggly!)  

Bulbs are starting to be seen and the winter flowering honeysuckle is already putting out buds, which is a little unusual, but I think that is down to the weather patterns this year.

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!

Late Autumn in the garden

It has certainly turned more wintry this week and we have had a couple of frosts. The garden has reacted accordingly, with leaves falling quickly.  I took these photos last weekend, before it all changed. Above shows one of  the miscanthus grasses which changed to a buttery yellow.

The blueberries are taking on their fiery Autumn colours.

They are such good value plants.

Lysimachia Clethroides is also showing changes of leaf colour.

These little cyclamen in the shady corner bring me joy with their beautifully patterned silver and green leaves.

My Fatsia Japonica is trying to flower.  This flower is just starting to open...

..this one is much further along.

A bright splash of orange/red is provided by the pyracantha berries.

One of my little ginkgos has buttery yellow leaves now too.  I have put a standard ginkgo on my 'one day' wish list - they are such beautiful (and ancient) trees. I am trying to have something of interest in the garden every month of the year and I am slowly getting there...