The Picton Garden at the end of September. The Jubilee Border still has lots of colour
Helen and Ross create another Gold Medal display at the RHS autumn show on the Three Counties Showground in Malvern
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii ‘Winston S. Churchill’ did not make it to the show. But, this compact growing plant put on one of its best, long lasting displays in the garden.
Well into October and the numerous species and cultivars of Michaelmas Daisies producing clouds of tiny flowers come into their own.
Planted in the early 1950’s this specimen of Metasequoia glytostroboides towers above the production area of the nursery
This year many of the trees planted around the garden for autumn colour were very late with their display. This fastigiate Beech, Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Gold’ waited until mid November. Long after the surrounding herbaceous plants had been cut back.
Meanwhile, my garden below the Worcestershire Beacon was doing its own thing by being a bit later with everything. Kniphofia rooperi is a long standing favourite for late flowers.
Sorbus wilsonii has extra large, pinnate leaves and big bunches of bright berries. It has proved to be very reliable in an exposed position.
Not far from the Sorbus, Viburnum furcatum has slightly less exposure to our virtually permanent westerly winds.
Nyssa sylvatica ‘Isabel Grace’ has naturally pendulous branches and is slow growing. With some careful trimming once a year it has made a good focal point in this mixed border.
Gillenia trifoliata has dainty white flowers in abundance, in early summer. This is always followed by a vivid display of autumn foliage.
Some of the dwarf growing Japanese azaleas can be relied on for autumn colour. Especially when planted on a sunny bank. This compact one is called ‘Racoon’.
Acer palmatum ‘Seiryu’. One of the taller sorts with dissected foliage and very attractive in the spring and summer months – then, reliably beautiful in the autumn.
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Orangeola’. A superb plant for rich autumn colour. Very slow growing and compact, often seen grafted onto a higher stem.
mixed shrub border at the end of October.
Back in the Picton Garden and Clematis ‘Romantika’ is hanging on for the first frost.
Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’ is still showing us why it is such a popular plant.
Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ is now about 40 years old and does not like our growing conditions enough to grow robustly
A last look at an overall view from the woodland end of the garden, with Oxydendron arboreum on the right.
Lindera obtusiloba. Having tried several species of this genus of shrubs, native to eastern Asia, this one wins hands down for lovely autumn colour and quite attractive pale green flowers early in the year.
Symphyotrichum turbinellum a native of northern America, is known as “Prairie Aster”. Always a reliable plant for October flowers, it is also very tough and disease resistant. Dainty and trouble free – what could be better! Definitely a rival to the ever popular ‘Little Carlow’.
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