Tags
Aster, aster lateriflorus Lady in Black, Autumn, Cercis canadensis, David Austin Roses, Forest pansy, frost, penstemon garnet, rose Brother Cadfael, six on saturday, tree work
Here we are, blogging from the confines of the second Lockdown, sharing our six from our gardens with you and our host The Propagator
We have had a couple of proper frosts this week and the garden has dropped leaves, the dahlias have blackened. Last week I shared Harlow Carr with you, this week I am back in my own garden, observing the last gasps of Autumn.
Penstemon are borderline hardy in my heavy clay soil. These are growing in a raised bed to aid drainage and here they thrive. The richness of the jewel like colour is a tonic on grey days of Autumn. I do not dead head these, or tidy them up for winter. I leave all the top growth, no matter how unsightly they become, only cutting back once new growth is emerging and the frost risk has passed. As extra security I take a few cuttings which usually strike very easily.
I planted a row of these asters to form an informal edge to the path. By midsummer the foliage is dark, almost black and looks strikingly handsome, repeating the darker foliage of Cercis canadensis and Sambucus Black Lace nearby. By Late Autumn they open zillions of tiny daisy like asters , creating a haze of flowers. A real sight when everything else is bowing out.
I mention the Forest Pansy so often I realise and that is because it gives such beauty. Here it is again.
Gardens are beginning to take on their winter scene and it is a good time to asses the parts you might want to change.
There are leaves to clear, roses to prune to protect against wind rock which is a big concern on my exposed garden. There are still roses but now the frost has touched them I shall prune them hard.
Lastly I will share some Autumn images taken at the garden where I work. Tree work has begun and on milder days mulching is order of the day.
I hope you can have a great weekend in your garden wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.
digwithdorris.com 
Love your Forest Pansy every time I see it. And the Asters and Penstemon, wonderful for November.
You are kind, thanks
Brother Cadfael is gorgeous with frost rimed around the edges of his petals!
He did look very pretty. Less so now !
You still have some lovely colour despite it being the start of winter. I particularly like the Aster ‘Lady in Black’ as it gives a stunning effect. I love the colours of the Cercis leaves, plus their shape.
Thank you. I love the haze A lady in Black gives and the Cercis is my one of my tip top favourites.
What a lovely big clump of penstemon that is, Dorris – perhaps one day I will achieve more than just thin straggly plants here! The dark foliage (and stems?) of the aster is really strking, making a really attrative plant, and I know how much you love your cercis…! Are you fully pruning all your roses now, Dorris, or just reducing height?
I wonder how you know I love the Cercis? Ha that will be because I’m always mentioning it! I am taking the roses back hard this year, so more than just reducing height. As the garden Is so exposed they are susceptible to wind rock. I am removing any crossing stems at this time too. It is early but they need it here.
Interesting to read you have to take these precautions. I have pruned some of my climbers today, but we are fairly sheltered so I will leave all the shrub roses till the New Year
Ordinarily it could be left to February
Yes, that’s when I will do the rest of mine, or in January perhaps if it proves to be mild
Oh dear! That’s another plant going on my wish list… Rose Brother Cadfael.
I hope you had a good gardening week. Good weather here apart from one day of torrential rain.
It’s good to have wish lists. I have had a busy gardening week but the weather here today is foul. Rain and wind all day! Bleh
Autumn is the busiest time of year for us, and continues into winter (not because winter should be as busy, but because so much of the autumn work gets delayed). Vegetation management has been a priority for us since the fire, and since some who lost their homes are now residing here for a while. We cut down many small trees, and would like the bigger ones harvested. We can not burn the debris though.
Such challenges and such important work. I wish you luck
Thank you; but it will not be luck. It is what needs to be done.