And, just like that, Autumn is upon us! The Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ began her decline at the end of August this year, a full month earlier than usual, so her leaves are already turning crimson as they lose their sugar and end their life cycle for another year.
The Amelanchier lamarckii is also turning from its summer green to that gorgeous, golden honey shade before they too drop and carpet the ground with colour. This is not death but renewal, and both trees will come back bigger and stronger next year.
The previous owners of our bungalow must have planted some Rose of Sharon bushes, Hypericum calycinum, which, despite my best efforts, are still around making a nuisance of themselves 13 years later. I pull them out but they always return. This one escaped my attention by hiding under the beech in the drive border but I must dig it up before those berries fall and cause even more mayhem next year. A real persistent survivor from the 70’s when it was all the rage. Little did they know!
This little patch of Persicaria affinis did not enjoy the full glare of the hot sun in July and sulked for weeks afterwards. Even copious amounts of water did not coax it into flower but now, suddenly in October, it is back again in force! The little pink fluffy bunny tails are enjoying the cooler conditions and the low sun in the lee of the hedge and delighting me every morning as I raise the kitchen blind.
The Chinese Mountain Ash, Sorbus hupehensis ‘Pink Pagoda’, is laden with fruit after a barren season last year. It may be a variety that has a rest year, I am not sure. What I do know is that the pesky Wood Pigeons will be on it shortly performing their acrobatics to strip the tree of every last berry. They are quite comical and never seem to break a branch no matter how precarious their endeavours!
This is a bit of a dilemma. The Cosmos which was planted here, which fell over and was removed weeks ago, obviously shed a lot of seed behind my back and has produced dozens of babies. I doubt they will survive the winter but even if I were to dig them up, I have nowhere warm enough to put them. What to do? Leave them and watch them turn to mush and die? Pot them up and leave them in the greenhouse to turn to mush and die?
This was it before it was removed. Too pretty to lose forever. Watch this space!
Have a great weekend
David
Davids Garden Diary 
Lovely colours on those first two trees. I wish I had room for a Liquidamber (is there a dwarf one?). Could you cloche some of the cosmos? seems a shame that you’ll lose it after it made such an effort.
Not sure about a dwarf Liquidamber, I doubt it though. The Amelanchier is multi-branched and not too tall so that might suit your small garden. Lovely early pure white flowers too. I think the Cosmos will have to take their chances, I have got too much else to worry about!
Good call on Hypericum – awful things!
Being unable to get rid of a patch was, I’m fairly sure , a key factor in deciding to leave a house some 35 years ago! Or it might have been next door’s Russian Vine….
I remember my Dad growing it and admiring the wonderful yellow flowers, only to be cursing it a few years later when it took over!
I have self sown Cosmos on my allotment, just starting to flower. I’m happy they’re there but not much bothered about them surviving but what I do know is a cast iron certainty is that if I’d direct sown them in the garden or on the allotment the slugs would have had every last one.
I suppose it’s doing what it would do in Mexico where it is probably a biennial. I agree about the slugs, I am amazed these Cosmos are still there, I have a massive slug and snail problem. I have discovered Delphinium requienii which the slugs and snails don’t touch.
The Persicaria affinis is wonderful. I vote for letting the cosmos do its thing, if it survives the winter so be it. Or could you cover them with a cloche of some sort?
Yes, the Cosmos will have to take it’s chances!
I didn’t realise hypericum was such a nuisance, I found one I didn’t know I had. It had been swamped by a huge fuchsia magellanica and I replanted it yesterday, but I think I’ll go & dig it up again today as it’s covered in berries.
Thanks for the (inadvertent) warning, this is exactly why I love Six on Saturday because people tell it like it is!
Morning Helen. It’s definitely a spreader! Not only by seeds but also underground runners that seem to go for miles! Get rid asap!
Thanks, I’ve already been out & pulled it up again!