Flowers outside...

Now the weather is cooler and we have had a bit of much needed rain, some of my normally very reliable autumn flowers are putting in an appearance and bringing me some lovely splashes of colour. Above is Japanese Anemone Bressingham Glow.  It is much shorter and much later to flower this year.  

Here is Symphyotrichum (Aster, as it will always be to me!)) novae-angliae Mrs S T Wright.  This one has seeded itself from the main plant which is further down the border.

Here is Symphyotrichum (Aster) Little Carlow.  For the last two years this plant's leaves have struggled against mildew, as it is near to a big Buddleia.  I may need to move it (again) or improve the soil.  The flowers are very pretty though.

Helianthus Lemon Queen, again, this is shorter and smaller than usual, but still has zingy yellow flowers, loved by bees.

Even the miscanthus is shorter, but still elegant, particularly when the breeze ruffles its silky flowers.

Liriope Muscari, a very undemanding plant. The stem in front is a herbaceous Clematis, New Love.

The hydrangeas are taking on their autumn colours of old velvet.

Salvias are still flowering - this one is either Raspberry Melba or Strawberry Melba!

This little clematis 'Neptune' is flowering for the second time this year which is unexpected, but very welcome.  these are the flowers at the top...

...and the bottom of the support.  I am enjoying this gentle slide into Autumn very much.

Wintry weather (for the UK)

Like many parts of the UK, we have had some snow.  I know this isn't the depth or duration of snow that other countries get, but here it is becoming more unusual to get any and if we do, everything grinds to a halt, as somehow we are never prepared for it! Above is my new hellebore, bravely flowering away despite the weather.

I took these photos last Monday, at lunchtime, so the snow was beginning to melt (and had gone completely by Wednesday).

Scotland has had much more than we have here. I like looking at the snow, but don't enjoy having to travel anywhere in it. Here is our patio table and some pots of bulbs.

You can just make out a cyclamen coum in bud to the left of the pot and you can see the noses of snowdrops starting to push up - always such a positive sign.

I leave the old foliage of grasses and perennials over winter for any insects.  I will cut the grasses down in February. 

I think the hydrangea flowers look lovely with their snowy hats!  I think we are due some more wintry weather over the coming days as Storm Goretti sweeps in.  I think we will be having heavy rain in this area but this may become snow - we shall see.  In the South of the UK, they are bracing themselves for 80-90 mph winds. I hope people will be sensible and keep safe. 

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...

My garden is getting a bit out of hand!

With the sunshine and showers we have had during July, the garden has put on a lot of growth.  In fact, it feels a bit like a jungle as we carefully try to make our way past the miscanthus.  The buddleia has matured into a bit of a monster - when I bought this, it was described as a 'dwarf', but there is nothing dwarf-like about its proportions now!  It has a honey scent which is most noticeable in the early evening when I am watering.

The phlox in a pot is also growing well and shares a honey scent.

Clematis Perle D'Azur has never looked as good as this.

Here are the miscanthus grasses which have really grown this year - this one is supposed to be a smaller variety 'Starlight' and behind it is the taller 'Kleine Fontane'.

A view to the sunny border with palms, roses , agapanthus, and hardy geraniums all jostling for space.

This is the view from the patio - bluberries, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, astrantias, a clematis and fuchshias.

Hydrangea Annabelle is making a stab at garden domination this year (but she is lovely!)

This is the north facing border with clematis, another miscanthus, roses at the back, and my hacked back (but doing well, with flower buds) hibiscus.  Again, a bit of a jungle feel here! 

Finally, a couple of photos of a bee enjoying the buddleia.

He kept moving very quickly, enjoying the nectar and pollen.

Favourite plants in September

 While things may be starting to turn autumnal, there is still lots to enjoy in the garden at the moment.  This combination of Japanese anemone, fuchsia and geranium Rozanne makes me smile.

Seeing a Red Admiral butterfly enjoying the buddleia was also a happy moment.

 

 The asters are also in full flower.

I am collecting a few more fuchsias...this is Rivendell (bought last year at RHS Chatsworth).

 Bella Rosa (I think)...

and Lady Thumb, all looking good.

 Hardy cyclamen are so delicate and beautiful - these are something I look forward to seeing every autumn.

 I think this is cyclamen Rose something - I shall have to check!

 Aster Little Carlow which is always a good flowerer.

Finally, my miscanthus are doing well and adding some elegance to the borders.

 This is 'Morning Light'...

...and here is Starlight.  Just some of my favourites at the moment.

Star Plants of late summer/early autumn

 My star plants at the moment are my miscanthus.  I have three varieties - here are Starlight and Kleine Fontane at the back. They are elegant plants and bring movement to the border.  I have found them to be really well behaved too and they provide something to look at throughout the winter.

 This miscanthus Silber Feder is in the other border and is a stunner.  It is statuesque and keeps its flower heads all winter.  If I had a larger garden, I would have many more miscanthus, but I really enjoy the ones I do have.  (The fence panel will be painted black at some point, once the clematis growing in front of it has died down.  The miscanthus will show up beautifully against the dark backdrop).

Helianthus Lemon Queen is a perennial sunflower which has grown absolutely huge this year.  I divided it early in Spring and this seems to have given it a new lease of life.  It towers above me and gives a lovely burst of sunshine yellow. 

 The bees love it too, as you can see.

How about this for a colourful combination?  Cosmos Dazzler, which does live up to its name.  This is a single plant shoved rather unceremoniously into a pot, contrasting against the sunflower.  The cosmos took ages to come into flower and I nearly composted it, but it has redeemed itself now.  As well as 'living for the moment' in the garden,  I do look forward to the way the character of the garden changes with the seasons.