The garden is slowly but surely going to sleep, casting off its bright summer clothes and getting ready for winter. The autumn colours in my little shrubbery are a reminder that all good things must come to an end but I will enjoy the last vestiges of what has been a glorious year in the garden.
The little forest of self sown Verbena bonariensis which jostles for space among the Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ and the remnants of aquilegias and foxgloves, are still going strong and provide a focal point at one end of the front garden.
Over the back garden gate, the ever reliable and evergreen Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ is just beginning to flower and will clothe the arch for many weeks with its pink freckled flowers. In summer it fights for position with an everlasting white sweet pea, Lathyrus latifolius ‘Alba’, which has just been cut back to make way for the show.
The young Chinese Rowan in the front garden, Sorbus hupehensis, is so laden with berries I fear some of the stems might snap under the weight, particularly when the fat, but acrobatic, wood pigeons descend for their annual feast. They will cling on for grim death until every berry is consumed. The Blackbirds and an occasional Waxwing or Fieldfare will take a few but it’s mainly Woody Wood Pigeon and his mates.
One or two stalwarts are hanging on including this fuchsia which refuses to die. It is not supposed to be hardy, was turfed out of a hanging basket five years ago and left to take its chances in the border. It soldiers on, oblivious to rain, drought and my neglect. Every garden needs a few of those!
The Chrysanthemums are just beginning to flower and the first as usual is ‘Romantika’ , a delicate pom-pom chrysanth with pink flowers which fade to white and goes on and on for weeks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t much like the rain and the flowers become a soggy mess after a heavy shower. Still, there are always so many buds that a quick snip gets it back to it’s former glory.
So that is my six for this Saturday.
Have a great weekend and stay safe
David
Davids Garden Diary 
I adore Sorbus hupehensis though I haven’t a plant in the garden. It’s a beauty – as is the rest of the garden.
Thanks Paddy. The Hupehensis berries are a deep coral pink colour at the moment but will gradually fade as they mature. Exceptionally beautiful.
Stay Safe, David
You have lots of color left! Love the Freckles clematis!
What a great Six! I LOVE that Clematis – the name sounds like a disease but the flowers are so interesting. I read up on it and was so disappointed to learn it’s not hardy over here!
Lovely colours. Now onto planting bulbs!
You’ve shared so many pretty things with us – the clematis is charming and the chrysanthemum too.
Thank you Katharine, glad you like it.
David
I planted a Freckles this summer. I hope it looks as good as yours in a few years.
Love seeing what’s happening in your garden every week. Planted a Freckles this year. Hoping for pretty late flowers like you have. Til next week . . .