Six on Saturday: 17 October 2020

17 Saturday Oct 2020

Posted by digwithdorris in six on saturday

Tags

aster lateriflorus Lady in Black, Carpinus betulus, cornus midwinter fire, crimson glory vine, Hornbeam, Leucanthemella, parthenocissus quinquefolia, penstemon, six on saturday, Virginia Creeper, Vitis coignetiae

Have you noticed how our gardens this week have become very autumnal thanks to the weather and shorter daylight hours? It is mid October so I suppose it is to be expected yet it seems to have changed almost overnight. Sharing the sights of the garden with you and our host The Propagator

This impressive display is from Cornus Midwinter Fire, so called I should imagine because it has incredible stems which are the colours of fire, orange through to yellow. These will reveal themselves once the golden leaves drop.

These multicoloured shades of green to yellow to red are from Vitis coignetiae, crimson Glory vine. The crimson colours are starting to come through and I am hoping it gets time to show before the leaves drop.

This is Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia. This is at the garden where I work. It is a plant which I really dislike for its rampant growth literally meters per season. Self clinging, it leaves dirty sucker marks which are almost impossible to remove over anything in its way including brickwork, paintwork and window panes. High maintenance. When cutting it back I have had a severe reaction to its sap which has left my forearms swollen for a week. Then it changes into this stunning show and all is forgiven. Almost.

Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus, is catching the sunlight, illuminating the subtle change from fresh green leaves to a yellowing before turning fully brown. Rather like Beech these leaves will not drop until the spring.

On the opposite side of the path is Aster lateriflorus Lady in Black which is covered in tiny daisies.

Late to flower these tiny sequins of daisies have only emerged in the last ten days.

White flowers are still shining in the garden, this white penstemon.

Nearby the tall daisies of Leucanthemella are still flowering.

These are my selection to share with you this week. Have a good weekend wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Six on Saturday: autumnal

12 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by digwithdorris in six on saturday

≈ Comments Off on Six on Saturday: autumnal

Tags

amelanchier, crimson glory vine, Dahlia Cafe au Lait, Helianthus salicifolius, June berry, parthenocissus quinquefolia, six on saturday, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum ‘Lady in Black’, Virginia Creeper, Vitis coignetiae

Rain has come in this month and although, so far, the month is mild, the weakening light is changing the view.

My six I am sharing with you lovely folk and The Propagator this weekend reflect the changes:

At the garden where I work we battle to keep the Virginia creeper under control. It scrambles up the walls of the house and left unchecked comes in through the windows. Often threatened with a pruning saw at ground level, this week it has reminded us why it is allowed to stay.

2. Cafe au Lait

The tubers came from Waitrose and were planted last year. They overwintered under a deep mulch. Real show stoppers.

This is Helianthus salicifolius. Tall with lovely quirky foliage and topped with very late (October) opening golden flowers. I rather like the foliage more than the flowers.

Another late flowering lovely, this is Lady in black . Dainty flowers smother the stems from top to bottom. Really pretty it has been planted to form an informal edge to the border.

Autumn is certainly coming, just look at the turning foliage on the Crimson glory vine, Vitis coignetiae. This is growing on the wall of the garage and it is pleasing to see it begin to colour up as last year the leaves just dropped off with no colour change.