Blog: There’s no fiery autumn colour without a smoke bush!
It’s been a rather unremarkable November weather-wise here – no destruction by gales, a very late first frost (the 28th), no serious rain or, indeed, snow! I should be grateful for so little to write about, I’ve got stuck into some of my winter jobs early. Welcome to my garden in pictures November.
Fifty colours of Cotinus
For years, the Cotinus (smoke bush) has struggled to make an impact at the back of the long border, overshadowed by the hedge and not getting nearly enough sun. However, it has plugged away and has really taken off in the last two seasons, finally becoming tall enough to get the sunlight it craves.
If you only have one plant for autumn colour, make it this one. The handsome purple leaves which emerge in spring start changing colour at the start of autumn, lasting for a good two months with an ever-changing palette of purple, red, orange and peach until the last leaf falls.
My garden in pictures November – Edibles
It’s been a case of clearing out the beds and containers, finishing off the carrots, onions, chillies and tomatoes. The Russian Red and Cavolo Nero kale have come into their own, as they’re hard as nails, and frost just enhances the former’s colour. I made a major boo-boo in not thinning the Red Falstaff apple, meaning we ended up with a huge crop of tiny apples, which were a complete pain to process or eat. More is definitely not better! The garlic Marco was planted, and the beds look neat for once. The autumn-fruiting raspberries are still going – what a tremendous year they’ve had.
I’ve started lasagne layering the blue 1m square bed (layers of cardboard interspersed with green and brown garden waste), which will rot down over winter to provide a good organic (and free) growing medium. It’s no-dig too!
Ornamentals
November is the first month when you really miss ornamentals. Even aster Barbados has finished, but the globular flowers of the various Fatsias have started blooming – the first time for F. japonica variegata. Others still putting forth flowers are the hardy Fuchsias – white Hawkshead, Rufus the Red and white/purple Star Wars. Astrantia Buckland has half-heartedly produced a late flourish, and geranium (Pelargonium) Bull’s Blood has continued to flower outside until Gary dragged them into the greenhouse on November 25!
My garden in pictures November – Evergreens
Evergreens are coming into their own, with the hollies, Pyracantha, Fatsia, Euphorbia, grasses, hebes, Eucalyptus gunnii and the hardy palms shown off to good advantage against the ‘everbrown’ of the beech hedge. Read more on patio pots in winter.
Finally, there are those plants that hang onto their leaves, like the Heuchera, or the back-to-front Arum italicum marmoratum (lords and ladies). This odd plant has showy, arrow-shaped, glossy green leaves with cream veins. The hooded flowers and leaves die back in late spring, the latter appearing again in autumn. Spikes of orange-red berries appear in summer. Beware – all parts of this plant are very poisonous.
