My Little Garden 4th Nov 2023
There nearly wasn’t a six on Saturday from me this week. Apart from a day out at Norton Priory last Sunday researching a story for Cheshire Life Magazine, the weather has been miserably wet and I haven’t taken any photos. I won’t complain because Storm Ciaran didn’t have any impact on where I live, but even so the rain has restricted what I can do in the garden.
The remnants of summer have now gone, but the autumn foliage colour hasn’t peaked yet, so what little there is to see isn’t very inspiring. It reminds me why November is my least favourite month.
So what have we got. Here are my six and the best I can do this week.
- Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’
The leaves are turning yellow and soon I’ll be able to see the orange stems.
2. Mahonia
I wouldn’t normally share the mahonia yet, but it’s next to the cornus in the gloomy corner. They both need a drastic prune in the new year.
3. Aster seedheads
After all the rain, I didn’t think these would fluff up again, but they don’t look too bad. It’s a variety called Twilight.
4. Japanese anemone
Three final flowers lurking in the shelter of the photinia.
5. Pulmonaria
This perennial is fabulous in spring and provides one of the first sources of nectar for the pollinators. After the flowers have gone the plant dies horribly and looks a real mess, so I cut back completely and let it hide at the back of some astrantia. By the time we get to late October, the astrantia is hibernating, and the spotty leaves of the pulmonaria are looking good again.
6. The last garden posy
Rosa ‘The Generous Gardener’ supported by cosmos, aster, and a bit of gaura and salvia. A little jug of flowers rescued from the rain.
Phew, made it through another week! For lots of much more exciting sixes, check out Jim’s blog and the links in the comments http://gardenruminations.co.uk/2023/11/04/six-on-saturday-4-11-2023/
Have a great weekend.
