Hesperantha are todays star performer and are much easier to pronounce since the RHS changed the name from Schizostylis! I have always had a spreading group of the red ‘coccinea’ which I have to cull every so often to curb their tendency to run, but this year I added a blush pink variety called ‘Pink Princess’ which has flowered right on cue.

The other brilliant, if rather straggly performer, is the awkwardly named Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Andenken an Alma Pötschke’ which is an outstanding if rather garish cerise pink colour. I am not sure I like it and it may have to go!

For some odd reason, the Salvia microphylla and gregii types like ‘Hot Lips’ and ‘Royal Bumble’ have a last hurrah in October and their flower colour intensifies for a few weeks until the first frost hits them. Perhaps they prefer the cooler weather or they are intent on setting good seed but whatever the reason, it makes a good autumn show.

The Rudbeckias are almost over now having flowered since July but the Dahlias are still going strong and with constant dead-heading, will go on until the first frost. On sunny days, the bees are all over them.

Aster asteroides ‘Stardust’ continues to shine out in the gloom of increasingly dull, cloudy days giving a lift to the borders and providing a rich nectar feed for pollinators.

The last flowers on Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’ are beginning to fade and soon she will be asleep for the winter, gathering her strength for another show in 2021. I can’t wait!

That’s my six for this week. I have been bulb planting as well but who wants to see bulbs before they flower! Over 200 narcissus have gone into pots and borders including 100 white Triandrus ‘Tresamble’ planted in the rose garden to give an early display and the tulips are lurking in paper bags in the shed waiting for their turn in November.

More of that another time.

Have a great weekend

David