Warmest October for three hundred and fifty
years, or so the experts tell us. I have never known one so mild and
even as I type this on the 31st the sun is still shining and most trees
are still in leaf. Talking of leaves, with careful planning this is the
time of year when we can be treated to a triple helping. We have the
evergreens just coming into their own as many deciduous lose theirs, the
ones colouring before falling and even a few with new growth.
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This first photograph is an
example of a typical evergreen which can form the backbone to a well
planned garden, giving height, solidity and shelter in winter. The Aucuba
japonica has leaves splashed with yellow which brightens the bush in the
shady situations it prefers. This is a moderately fast grower and makes
a good background plant. It will in time reach about ten feet (3m) in
height and about as much across.
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The next type of leaf is
presented here by Acer japonicum Aconitifolium, showing just a small
range of the colours present at this time of year in the vast range of
Acers now available. This one in spite of having relatively large leaves
for an Acer is in fact very slow growing reaching a height of about
fifteen feet (4.5m) after a great many years. Mine has increased in
height by about one foot (30cm) after seven years.
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My old favourite Euphorbia
mellifera is one of the few shrubs to fit into the last category of
autumn foliage, with fresh new leaves. It produces these after the
seeds have been dispersed by their explosive capsules. The new leaves can be
caught by early frosts, but when they do survive add a touch of
spring freshness at a time when most of the garden is rather drab.
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I was rather pleased with the way this
photograph turned out, so decided to inflict yet another autumn coloured
Acer on you. This is the original Acer japonicum glowing in the last
touch of sunshine. In a few more days the sun will not rise high enough
to catch it in my north facing garden.
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Of course we are not just dependent
on leaves in the garden at this time. Although blooms may be a bit thin on
the ground the green stems of Cornus stolonifera are a hit with flower
arrangers at this time, and look good at the back of a border, even better
if lit by winter sunshine or against a blanket of snow. Watch out though
this one is a space stealer and spreads rather quickly sending out runners
in all directions.
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If leaves and braches do nothing
for you then at least the berries must. These orange ones glistening on
Iris foetidissima would probably go unnoticed in spring or summer, but now
they stand out and remain that way for some weeks, seemingly untroubled by
birds.
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Snowballs without snow are
provided by Symphiocarpus albus. this is another shrub for an out of the
way corner as it too has a tendency to outgrow it's allotted space, but
has the advantage of being successful even in fairly deep shade, and that
is the place for it to make those berries stand out.
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So it is possible to have plenty of interest
and not a flower in sight.
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 These are
October Photographs
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 These
are October Notes
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