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.

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.) 

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?

Winter has arrived

Last week it was much colder, as winter started to make itself felt.  Above is Clematis Wyevale looking beautifully statuesque with a dusting of frost.  

As we were going into the city centre, we were stopped in our tracks by these amazing icy spiders' webs. 

They look so beautiful.

I can't remember ever seeing something similar, although it could be I just wasn't looking!

These are all at the front of the house, along the railings.

Aren't they incredible?

Then on Sunday morning, this is what greeted us.

Even with the frost, ice and snow, this salvia, Cerro Potosi, still had a flower.

The winter flowering jasmine was also braving the temperatures.

I also found two raspberries - one was eaten before I took the photo - and they still tasted good!

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.

Winter frosts

Having been thoroughly spoiled by having such a lovely mild Autumn, the sudden return to more season appropriate weather has caught us by surprise.  While it isn't that cold in the UK compared to other countries (such as Canada), it certainly feels cold to me.  We have had our first frosts of the winter and the cold weather looks set to continue for the next week.  Above are a salvia and a palm.

I was slow with my pot insulating this year, lulled into a false sense of security.  Last week saw some frantic activity to get the most sensitive plants protected.  Above is a rose bush.

Another rose bush, this time in the border.  The frost does make everything look that little bit more magical.

Another rose bush.

We have been having some work done on our roof and guttering - "Who told you about guttering?"(for my friend Rachael and any other Victoria Wood fans out there) and I have had to move the plants that are usually by the back door onto the patio.  They are not sheltered so much there and I am not sure some of them will come out of the temporary move unscathed. Above is Magnolia Fairy Blush, one of those plants.  I hope they will all be OK until they can be moved back...

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.