Even though its getting darker and colder, although yesterday was so warm,20C, there are still things to see in the garden that make me smile as I have my daily wander. We had a yellow flood warning for yesterday, but didn’t see much rain, thank goodness! Still a few more plants to be brought in before our first frost which is due tonight, I think I will have them all under cover just in time! My six are as follows…..
No 1
Mahonia Soft Caress has decided to flower at last. It was planted 3 yrs ago and this year, the flowering is slow to get started. By this time last year it was well into flowering by now.
Mahonia nitans Cabaret is having a second flowering, even better than the first, this time there are 4 flower spikes, opening up orange from dark purple buds.
No 2.
Do you remember me showing you lots of tiny acorn like fruits on my big yew tree earlier? They have now turned into thousands of lovely red berries and it now looks as though it is already decorated for Christmas!
The tree is now absolutely covered with red berries, never seen so many before. A song thrush was gorging itself the other day, along with 5 or 6 blackbirds and a small willow warbler. My tree needs a serious cutting back, but I will wait until the birds have finished all the fruit before asking my gardener to tackle it.
No 3
I think it was Tuesday when I woke up to thick fog. Just what I was waiting for, fog to spangle the spiders webs so they looked as though they were decorated with diamonds!
So many to choose from, but I think this one is the best, swinging between the grass heads of Stipa gigantea.!
No 4
Autumn tints are developing around the garden, this is Viburnum plicatum Lanarth, but doesn’t seem to have the second flowering of V.p.Mariesii.
I’m used to Viburnum plicatum Mariesii having a second burst of flowers, she does look rather lovely along with her change of leaf colour.
No 5
Just when I thought everything was coming to an end, out pops a lovely blue flower on my Ceratostigma. I really need to move this, I think I said that last year, I mean it this year as the flowers seem to form on the ends of the stems and it is getting in the way, reaching across the path.
No 6
I have a feeling that you might get a bit fed up with seeing my new Acer, but the change in leaf colour is really amazing, just one more branch to change. I have to check on it each day and really enjoy looking at it, it is so beautiful, such a lovely shape.
As well as the leaves changing colour, the stems have changed too, they are now all the same colour of the leaves, isn’t nature wonderful!
Those are my six for this week, I found 2 more, a salvia and an iris, but they will have to wait for next week. It was colder last night just 7C instead of the 17C that we have been having and hopefully we will have a rain free morning so that I can get the rest of my plants safely under cover before the frost tonight. Thanks to Jim for organising us at Garden Ruminations where you can see gardens from around the world.
What a wonderful ‘autumnish’ selection Pauline. You always have such lovely mahonias and your little Acer too. It’s amazing how one plant can give such pleasure on a daily basis.
Thanks Denise, soon there will be more autumn tints to enjoy, maybe the frost, if it comes tonight, will encourage the other acers to change colour! I am pleased with the small mahonias, they make a nice change from the larger ones.
Looking lovely, I am especially envious of your viburnum! Oh, and your mahonia! Everything really.
Many thanks Gill, I can usually find something in the garden, maybe plants, maybe with connections to the wildlife, they don’t often let me down!
Very nice selection and no I’m not fed up with this acer bonsai. It’s beautiful . I also really like the delicate blue flower of Ceratostigma. Does it grow well in your garden? Potted?
I’m hoping Fred, that the cooler temperatures will now start my other Acers changing colour, so then I will have others to show you. In the meantime, I’m still enjoying the one in its pot!The blue of the Ceratostigma was what drew me to it, my favourite colour, it does grow well for me, but I think I will move it to by my Yellow Wave phormium. It should be fine in a pot I think, but does send out long stems with the flowers just at the tips.
A great selection and great photos. My Mahonia Soft Caress is just starting putting out some flower spikes. Love the Yew berries.
Thanks Graeme, maybe I was being too impatient with my Mahonia, last year it must have been early! Lots of the berries have now gone from the yew, I think the birds will be sowing lots of seeds for me!
I think we might have had your rain, Pauline, as yesterday was probably the wettest day we have had this year!! Your yew must look amazing in real life – I noticed our holly was smothered in berries today, but it just takes a flock of migrating birds passing through and they could all be gone! Your acer must give you so much pleasure, watching the colour changes from day to day. Thanks for sharing your six
Yesterday was much better than expected Cathy, thank goodness and today was positively gorgeous! The yew did look wonderful but the birds have eaten a lot plus lots have been dropped by them on the lawn! I am so pleased with my Acer, better than I’d hoped for!
Great autumn colours. I wish I had room for ‘Mariesii’, such a beautiful plant all year round.
Thank you Quilting gardener, I do try to plan for some colour in all seasons. V. Mariesii is a gorgeous shrub, as you say, all year round, even in the winter when she has lost her leaves, the horizontal branches still have interest.
Great shots of the spiderwebs, Pauline. Have a wonderful week.
The camera wasn’t too keen to focus on the webs Susie, it wanted to focus on whatever was behind!
I love the way those mahonia flowers arch, it’s so pretty. Also, that little acer IS gorgeous and I’m sure nobody is complaining about seeing it get every more gorgeous 😀
Soon Angela, my other acers will be taking over from this first one to change. It’s nice to think that I should have another month of wonderful colour from them!
I always enjoy looking through your garden photos! <3 You look at things in a wonderous way, those spiderwebs are fabulous as is that delicious Viburnum! Ceratostigmas do well in my garden too!
I wait for mist or fog in the autumn to be able to photograph the spiders webs Sarah, I dread to think how many I walk through unknowingly when I walk round the garden! Glad you like them!
As long as the spiders are small…we have chunky monkeys here!
Our garden spiders are nice and small and friendly Sarah, I’ve heard that you have big poisonous ones where you are!
A lovely selection,very autumnal. Love the Mahonia cabaret, such a lovelycolour.I do enjoy having yew in the garden, as you say, it’s very Christmassy. Just loving those webs, simply gorgeous.xxx
Thanks Dina, I love all the colours at this time of year. There are still berries on the yew in spite of the birds feasting on them!x