Some of the garden is still looking stressed after our really hot, dry summer, but in certain areas there are delights to be found, plants that are doing really well, or even doing much better than usual. The first is my Amelanchier lamarckii which I must have planted at least 20 years ago as a very small tree.
Amelanchier lamarckii, at its best yet.
All the books say that it has wonderful colour in the autumn, until this year it was always a disappointment with just a few slightly red leaves.
This year it is amazing, hardly recognizeable as the same tree.
They show up beautifully against the dark background .
I’m assuming the wonderful colour has come because of the hot summer we have had.
Our last really hot summer was in 1976, which I remember well. I hope I don’t have to wait so long for my tree to colour up so well in the future!
I noticed the other day that it is colchicum time once again.
They are looking so fresh and spring like, I really must get more and must put them in a sunny spot in the woodland to keep the cyclamen company.
Usually slugs and snails cause them to flop over, but fingers crossed, so far, so good.
These were just a few bulbs taken from the original clump, these have increased nicely, but the others have dwindled, why I wonder.
The fuchsia family has done well, this Delta Sarah.
Fuchsia Whiteknights Blush.
Fuchsia magellanica
The erigeron which has planted itself at the base of the house wall has gone mad this year and there are seedlings popping up everywhere.
Grasses have done ever so well, this one is Miscanthus Silberfedder.
Miscanthus malepartus has the most beautiful burgundy coloured flower spikes, they will end up pale buff, but I’m enjoying their colour at the moment.
I think Stipa gigantea is my favourite, with the sun behind it, it is breathtaking.
Yes, I love this one, just like spun gold!
The cyclamen in the woodland are still making a lovely show, looking very pretty indeed.
Not quite open yet, my variegated Yucca has put up a beautiful flower spike. I don’t think it will be very long before the lovely flowers open. This is another plant that has obviously enjoyed the hot summer.
Rain is forecast for this week, the garden will be pleased and so will I, as I must get some planting done before winter comes. The soil at the moment is still so dry and hard, it needs softening with some much needed rain.
Do you have lots of plants that have relished our long hot summer?
Pauline, glad you’re seeing some benefits of your extreme summer weather. Those colchicum are wonderful.
At last we are getting back to normal Susie, thank goodness. Every year I keep meaning to buy more Colchicums, hopefully this will be the year when I do, because I think they are so lovely at this time of year.
Lovely to see your Amelanchier. I planted one this year, a very small tree! The rabbits chewed it and it grew back a little but as yet it is still very green. Sounds like I might need to wait a few years. And possibly cage it earlier next year!
Mine was only tiny when we planted it Jessica, it has now grown to a nice shape, but thank goodness the rabbits left it alone. They were a pain when we first started the garden here, chewing everything with a high price tag on it! Hope yours survives and proves to have wonderful autumn colour.
I’m surprised your Miscanthus have done so well in the heat, mine suffer dreadfully, although this year will so much rain I may have some good flowers spikes on my M. ‘Morning Light’. I love the colours of your Amelanchia, I too planted a small one but the leaves are dying back without colouring.
It had taken 20 yrs to get good colouring on my Amelanchier Christina, I hope yours doesn’t take as long! All the miscanthus have doe well, they are putting on a lovely display at the moment.
I am glad to see your Amelanchier putting on such a good display as it is one of my favourite trees, though in my garden they are shrubs forming a hedge rather than trees. It is certainly not a fast growing plant!
A bit of judicious pruning turned my bush into a tree Denise, so I could plant under it! I agree, it takes a long time to grow, I’m hoping mine has now finished growing as it is just the right size for where it is planted, I don’t want it to get any taller.
Oh yes, I remember 1976 too….
Your Amelanchier is so vibrant, gorgeous, loving the grasses and your fuchsia, glad to know so many species thrived during the drought.xxx
Other trees are now joining the amelanchier in their autumn colours Dina, at least a month earlier than usual this year, normally it’s well into October if not November before they start colouring up. On the whole, the garden has coped well apart from the hydrangeas and rhododendrons, I’m just hoping they will be ok for next year.
Amelanchier is a great small tree and I am glad it has put a proper autumn coat for you this autumn, Pauline
I agree Cathy, it is a lovely tree, all through the year. The leaves have now all dropped and been swept up to go onto the pile in the woodland, where they can rot down slowly, before being put back onto the garden in a years time.