Changing colours.

Each day brings new colours to the foliage in the garden. But each day brings more wind and rain, which brings more leaves down as soon as they have been swept up, it is never ending at this time of year! Come and join me in a wander round the garden to see what the latest storm has left for us.

Starting in the front drive, Hostas seem to be melting back into the ground. This was Hosta seiboldii, the leaves are huge due to all our rain.

Cornus alba sibirica Westonbirt is still hanging onto some of its leaves, so many have dropped already.

The cherry by the gateway is such a beautiful colour, but most of the leaves have fallen already.

Ilex Golden King is looking very smart and shiny with it’s clusters of berries for decoration.

The leaves of Viburnum plicatum Maresiiget get more red as the days pass by.

Huge hairy Verbascum leaves trap the raindrops as they fall.

Heuchera and Hakonechloea make good partners.

In the woodland, Acer Sango kaku has changed from green to almost yellow, it will end up butter yellow.

Hamamellis mollis leaves have changed to a lovely yellow with just a hint of peach.

Cyclamen hederifolium have finished flowering, now I can see all the different patterns on the leaves.

Pulmonaria seedlings pop up all over the garden and they too have varying patterns on their leaves, some are almost all silver.

The woodland at the moment.

Acer Osakazuki is half and half at the moment.

It won’t be long before all the leaves are this wonderful colour.

Solomons Seal is looking very ghostlike.

The foliage in a corner of the gravel garden at the back has Melianthus major next to Acer palmatum purpureum Dissectum with Heucheras in front.

In a dark corner by the house, Fatshedera brightens up the gloom. This has been its best year so far, I thank all the rain!

Prunus Kojo no mai is contrasting nicely with Pittossporum Irene Patterson next door.

We seem to have got off lightly with not too much damage from Storm Brian, just masses of tigs and leaves everywhere .We still have a lot of leaves left to enjoy, with hopefully more autumn tints still to come. We need cold nights to bring the colours out in the leaves, but at the moment it is still relatively warm at night time for this time of year – ah well, we can’t have everything, I’ll enjoy what I can!

 

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20 Responses to Changing colours.

  1. Peter/Outlaw says:

    Thank goodness that Brian didn’t do serious damage to your garden which is wearing it’s autumn finery beautifully.

    • Pauline says:

      The garden is having it’s final fling Peter, I love this time of year with its bright colours. I think we just caught the edge of Brian, it went to the north of us where the sun was red for quite some time.

  2. Cathy says:

    Your garden always has such lovely autumn colours Pauline. That two-tone acer is gorgeous!

    • Pauline says:

      Thank you Cathy, this year though, we haven’t had the cold nights yet which bring the best colours. I hope my Acer lasts for some time and that the leaves don’t get blown down soon, the colours are fleeting at this time of year and so dependant on the weather.

  3. Diana Studer says:

    I chose a deep red Japanese maple and it is finally starting to fill in and look like a tiny tree. (Until the summer Southeaster batters the leaves)

    • Pauline says:

      Purple Acers do turn such a wonderful colour don’t they Diana, but they like to be sheltered and out of the hot sun, I hope you can keep yours happy because they are such lovely trees.

  4. Alison says:

    All your autumn foliage shots are lovely, but I especially like that Viburnum plicatum Mariesii, that ruby red color of the leaves is luscious.

    • Pauline says:

      The Viburnum is a lovely shrub Alison, flowers in the spring and autumn and such lovely autumn foliage, what more could you ask from a plant?

  5. Denise says:

    Lovely colours Pauline! This really is a special time of year. I love the Cornus alba sibirica Westonbirt and still have lovely memories of my visit to Westonbirt many years ago.

    • Pauline says:

      I am so fond of my Cornus shrubs Denise, they certainly earn their space in the garden with such wonderful leaf colour in the autumn. Then when the leaves have fallen, from November till March, they are the stars of my driveway with their wonderfully red stems, then its time to be coppiced and start all over again!

  6. Christina says:

    I look forward to seeing all the lovely autumn colours in your garden Pauline. Cold nights suddenly arrived here this week – a bit of a shock really! You’ve reminded me that my Solomons Seal seems to have disappeared after the summer, probably just much too dry for it.

    • Pauline says:

      We have been told that our cold nights will arrive next week Christina, when the winds change to the north and come from the arctic! I enjoy the colours of autumn, it’s a shame they are so fleeting.

  7. Jason says:

    Great color on the cherry and Viburnum. I have Prunus virginiana, a variety with dark purple leaves that don’t seem to change color in autumn. Viburnum trilobum has pretty nice color also. Glad that Brian showed some restraint.

    • Pauline says:

      The cherry and Viburnum can always be relied on to provide lovely colour in the garden at this time of year Jason, but the cherry drops its leaves at the first puff of wind! The garden is having its final fling, so I’m enjoying it before it all blows away!

  8. Cathy says:

    Definitely getting cooler at night in the last few days though, Pauline, isn’t it? There are so many subtle changes to see at this time of year, but sadly some (like hostas!) are less than attractive. Your cornus will look wonderful with all their bare stems in a few weeks – it was with your encouragement that I first cut mine back and I am still amazed at how much new growth they put on in a year

    • Pauline says:

      Yes Cathy,the warm weather has gone for now, but the cooler weather will be good for the colour of the autumn tints, they like sunny days and cold nights. The cornus do ever so well with an annual prune, yet still manage to grow over 6 ft tall by summer, they provide the colour all winter in the driveway border, I’m so glad I planted them.

  9. Frank says:

    Beautiful as usual. Autumn seems to be such a long affair in your garden, I think it’s thanks to the interesting range of plants you’ve added over the years.
    Love the new header, the cyclamen have really filled in!

    • Pauline says:

      It all depends on the weather Frank, as to how long the colours last. Our wind and temperatures are now coming from the north, it is suddenly a lot colder, so I’m not sure how much longer they will last. I’m making the most of them at the moment, they look lovely when the sun is shining through the leaves, like a stained glass window.

  10. snowbird says:

    You do have some beautiful autumn leaves and foliage. Clearing leaves at this time of the year is an endless job.xxx

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks Dina. I keep trying to tell myself that sweeping the leaves up is good for me, but somehow I’m not convinced! I will still be sweeping up at Christmas!

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