Blog: The last leaves mix with early winter bedding
There’s no such thing as a normal season anymore but this damp, mild spell of weather has led to some great late autumn colour in my garden. Thanks again to Vanessa Sundin for the pictures!
We’ve only had one slight frost, which is unheard of here in NE England. If fact, in my new raised beds, there’s still a Colocasia (elephant ears) happily in leaf, protected by the warmth retained and given out at night by the black wall. Read about my garden in pictures for September.
Late autumn colour – summer flowers clinging on
As I’ve mentioned before, the stars of the season have been the two nasturtiums on trial from Suttons. They are the colour-changing Ice Cream Sundae and dusky pink Purple Emperor. They filled the gaps left behind by the sweet peas, which failed miserably in the drought and heat. Despite that one frost, they’re still blooming.
The two Magical Revolution hydrangeas have also performed well, if very late! Despite being killed to the ground by drought, Campanula carpatica has sprung up again, bursting into flower this week.
Bang on time are the Fatsias, covered with their globular flowers and a vital late nectar source, as is the Mahonia.
Early winter bedding
Both new plants and last year’s primroses and primulas are in flower. I don’t believe in ditching these perennials. I just put them somewhere cool and shady during summer, bringing them back into the sun in September.
This year’s pansies are blooming away, giving a late autumn colour boost. A collection of violas and wallflowers are still growing on in pots, ready to be planted into their final positions.
Late autumn colour – the last of the leaves
The deciduous leaves are clinging on for dear life. The torrential rain and high winds of today look like finishing them off at last! Of course, deciduous shrubs like Cotinus steal the show but now’s the time that evergreens take centre stage.
Don’t forget the small stuff. Ground cover plants like Ajuga and Heuchera provide welcome dashes of colour at this time of year. Happy gardening!
Late autumn colour in the garden updated 2023
