Patience needed!

I was once again, too soon to post about my acers final fling. If I had waited another couple of days, the final colours would have been showing, a real Wow with burnt orange blazing in the back garden.

The light was just right when I turned around while sweeping up leaves. I quickly downed the rake and went and fetched the camera.

Again,a dark background shows the leaves off beautifully, I noticed this at Westonbirt, they all look better with an evergreen behind them.

From underneath, the colours have taken a long while to change.

The best view is from one of the back bedroom windows where you are looking slightly down on all the leaves.

A real Wow at last! I really wish I knew which variety this tree is, it is truly wonderful at this time of year.

Other trees and shrubs are also showing their autumn colours.

The small tree, hybrid of an oak and beech, that isn’t so small any more, by the front drive is now joining in with the acers.

The beech hedge with a camellia, in the front garden always pleases me.

It also contrasts nicely with the Mahonia Charity.

Not mine, but next doors Acer is peeping over the wall!

More beech, this time up at the top of the garden next to the field.

This hazel hedge is on top of a Devon bank that forms the boundary to the veggie garden. It was laid a good few years ago, I think it needs doing again. Another job for Neil this winter I hope! I don’t know if it forms nuts, I hope it does so that it can feed my dormice.

Acer campestre or Field Maple is the common tree in the hedges round the village here. This is behind the bog garden, but is a large tree, not part of a hedge.

The leaves are just as pretty as their hybridised cousins.

Evergreens are also adding their contribution to the garden at the moment.

Melianthus major has such beautiful leaves but I have protection in place for the root ball.

The birds spread Arum italicum marmoratum round the garden, but it is very welcome as we always seem to have their stunning leaves.

Ilex Golden King shines brightly in the sunshine and asks to be admired.

Young foliage of Eucalyptus gunnii contrasting with foliage of Cotinus Grace.

Fatshedera variegata catching the light and looking very shiny in a dull, shady corner.

I had to include the box balls in a foliage post, they are the mainstay of the front garden during the winter when the roses are having their rest.

The  junipers and Lonicera baggesens gold join the box balls so that I have something interesting to look at while washing the dishes in the winter.

View over the fields from the landing window. This was taken with a telephoto lens so it all looks much closer than it really is. The green of the summer has gone for another year.

Foliage forms the backdrop to the garden all year round, as far as the evergreens are concerned but it is the deciduous leaves that give the garden its sparkle at this time of year. Gradually the colours change, depending on the weather, sometimes early, sometimes later, this year they are  quite a bit later than usual. Then all of a sudden, one day you notice that the leaves have dropped and a lot more light is getting into the garden. This is good for all the late winter/ early spring flowers that are poised, waiting for just the right conditions, so that they can start the gardening year all over again.

I was thinking that I might have a month without too much gardening before having to get ready for the snowdrops. Look what I found the other day when wandering in the woodland!!!

Snowdrops in November, unheard of here, my earliest ones are supposed to flower round about Christmas time, obviously no rest for the wicked!

I’m linking this post with Christina’s Foliage Day at My Hesperides Garden, please pay her a visit and see the colour in her garden.

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18 Responses to Patience needed!

  1. Chloris says:

    I love all your November foliage. The acer is a winner.

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks Chloris, I think the Acer is amazing too! Coloured foliage at this time of year is so precious, but it will soon be all gone, possibly by the weekend, the leaves are falling so fast.

  2. Alison says:

    Your fall foliage is lovely. It keeps getting better and better and then suddenly there’s a windy day and it’s all on the ground. Our deciduous trees are all bare now.

    • Pauline says:

      Thank you Alison. I spent a long time clearing the back lawn of leaves yesterday, today there are even more! This will continue for another few weeks, there are quite a few more leaves still to fall, the oaks being tha last to drop, usually around Christmas time.

  3. Cathy says:

    The acers are wonderful Pauline. And your foliage too – especially love those Arum leaves. The Eucalyptus has such pretty leaves. The contrasts with your backgrounds are fabulous too.

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks Cathy, the acers certainly bring colour to the November garden. I think backgrounds are important if you have the room for them, they definitely enhance the rest of the foliage in the garden.

  4. snowbird says:

    Oh my!!! That Acer is something else!!! Fanbloomingtastic! Snowdrops too…sighs…xxx

    • Pauline says:

      I’m so glad you like it Dina! Soon all the leaves will be on the lawn, we have had strong winds for the last few days and leaves are falling everywhere! As soon as I sweep up, there are more waiting. It was good while it lasted. I’ve found a few more snowdrops almost flowering, they must have been brought on by the warm weather we have had this month. I must get into the woodland and tidy it!

  5. Denise says:

    Lovely photos Pauline, your acer really is stunning and you make a very good point about the evergreeen background showing them to best effect. I do like the leaves of the Acer campestre, so pretty. I planted a variegated one a couple of years ago but it seems very slow growing!

    • Pauline says:

      Thank you Denise, I love all the colour the Acers provide. Acer campestre grows like weeds here, I have to be vigilant when I see new seedlings popping up! I think variegated plants are slower growing as they don’t have as much chlorophyll, I’m sure yours will get there eventually!

  6. Christina says:

    Your autumn colour is always stunning Pauline. I really enjoyed seeing the Box ball area; I don’t think I’ve seen it from that direction before, it looks like an Italian courtyard. I really envy you the Acers; I’ve never lived anywhere they would thrive; they are such beautiful trees. You could think about hosting GBFD as you are always very punctual in posting about your foliage and you always have something beautiful to share.

    • Pauline says:

      Are you really thinking of giving up hosting GBFD Christina? I would certainly miss it if that is so, as I have always felt that interesting foliage is so important in a garden. Yes , I could think about taking over, maybe in January, if that is what you would like.
      Having looked at the photo of the conifers and box balls again, I can see what you mean about an Italian courtyard! Once the roses have stopped flowering and get cut back by half, this area relies totally on the foliage shapes to provide interest.

  7. Jason says:

    The color on the Acers is outstanding.

  8. Cathy says:

    I am glad you managed to capture your acers as I suspect they may have lost most of their leaves soon after with the mid-week winds. I don’t think I have seen that view of the box balls either – good to see that part of the garden

    • Pauline says:

      Acers have all dropped their leaves now Cathy, leaves swept up and are now on the huge pile which will rot down nicely and make beautiful leaf mould to be added back to the garden in a years time. There are still a few of the huge trees hanging onto their leaves, but not for much longer I hope.
      The box balls are usually hidden by the roses in the summer when I photograph them, it looks a completely different space in the winter.

  9. Diana Studer says:

    Oh, good to have the pictures to remind you of a best ever year?

    The slightly golden leaves of my lemon tree glow against our neighbour’s glooming hedge – small compensation.

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