Hydrangea and camellia

The last of the hydrangea leaves has now fallen and these were the most stunning colour, so I had to get a photo. This is Hydrangea Merveille Sanguine.

Down at the bottom of the garden, Camellia Yoimachi is quietly flowering away.

I do like these delicate white flowers, with just a hint of pale pink on the petals. They appear on my blog with regularity as I so enjoy seeing them at this time of year.

Really pretty and brightening up many a dull grey day.

What a difference a day made

As we are heading towards the end of November, I went out yesterday morning to see what colour I could find in the garden.  Above is hydrangea Vanille Sundae - those oranges and reds were really singing out.

Another hydrangea, Merveille Sanguine.

Rose Dannahue is still trying to flower.

Salvia Cerro Potosi growing through Magnolia Susan.

Liriope Muscari still holding on to some flowers.

There were even two raspberries - I ate the one at the top a few moments after I took the photo!

Rhodanthemum Casablanca had one perfect flower.

One of the Nemesia Melody series was also still flowering.  Still lots to enjoy, I thought. Then last night, we had snow.  It hasn't snowed in November for quite a few years... 

This morning when I went into the garden, the snow was melting, but everything looked bedraggled.

What a difference a day made! (Here's a link to the song sung by Dinah Washington, which has been in my head for a few days.) 

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.

Hydrangeas

The hydrangeas are looking good again and beginning to turn their autumnal shades.  Above is a dwarf macrophylla white which had these beautiful bright white flowers earlier in the summer. They are now turning more green.

Here is Bobo, another small plant but a paniculata variety. I find these easier when it comes to pruning.

Sundae Fraise starting to turn pink around the edges.

Pinky Winky turning pink.  This has the biggest flowers of the lot.

Macrophylla magical Revolution Pink, with shades of green on the flowers.

Magical Revolution Blue which hasn't done so well this year as it was too shaded out, I think. I have moved it in the hope that it will do better next year.  It is going more purple/lilac now and will probably change to pink another year.

Macrophylla Dark Angel looking pretty good.

Only two flowers from Sanguine Merville, (probably down to my not that brilliant pruning!) but they are rather lovely.

Finally another Magical Revolution Pink at the front door and looking probably the best of them all!

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.

In the garden in late July

 Having just had a very hot week (well, hot for the UK) and then torrential rain yesterday, some plants are flowering a little earlier than they would normally.  Above is Agapanthus Navy Blue.

 Here is Agapanthus Silver Baby which has the faintest tinge of baby blue to the edge of the flowers.  I would normally expect them to flower in August.  Incidentally, they didn't flower all that well last year and this year, I potted them on.  Listening to an Agapanthus grower on TV at one of the RHS shows, it seems that they need to be potted on annually, split when they get too big and given space (rather than being crammed in, which was the general wisdom) and fed.  It has made a difference to mine this year, so I need to add that into the Spring maintenance schedule.

My lovely Hibiscus Oiseau Bleu is flowering earlier than in the past.  It looks like it has leaned over a bit this year or maybe it is just bigger so it seems to be taking up more space.

 My blue hydrangea is looking lovely and still blue, which is encouraging.

 Clematis Blue Angel is flowering away (even if some of the petals have been eaten by marauding snails).

 Hydrangea Arborescens Annabelle is flowering beautifully too.  I cut her back really hard in Spring, but she has responded well.

 Hydrangea Dark Angel is also putting on a good show.

 Hydrangea Little Lime is a new to me plant with lime green flowers which age to pink.  So far, it is doing well.

 Hydrangea Merveille Sanguine is also looking good...

 with the creamy green flowers which age to a fuchsia pink.

Finally, on this Hydrangea-fest, here is 'Fireworks', flowering well.

In the garden with the hydrangeas (and a rose)

I had a quick wander round the garden with my camera on a nice sunny-ish day.  The hydrangea above (Coco) still thinks it's summer and is flowering.

Whereas the hydrangea here (Merveille Sanguine) is sure it is autumn and has turned beautiful shades of red.

 My latest hydrangea (Magical Revolution Blue) has turned green with touches of purple.  I really like this plant which is compact and pretty.

 If you part the flower heads, there are still some touches of blue.

Rosa Mundi's leaves had turned a lovely buttery yellow which is lighting up this part of the garden.  I am enjoying the autumn colour while I can as I don't know how much longer it will last.