October show-offs
It may be mid October but we're still getting daytime temperatures in the high teens and overnight lows close to 10C. The autumn performers are having a fine time, making the most of the late warmth and sunshine. I think today I'll say little and let the pictures do the talking.
The purple petals of Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple' match the purple salvia flowers almost exactly.
Bishop of Llandaf in its element.
Chaucer is still producing the occasional bloom
Leycesteria formosa gets a poor press for being a bit common, but I like it (takes one to know one)
I love the delicate veined flower of Geranium sanguin- eum var. striatum
I know this is a Spirea, but I don't know which one. It's a dull plant except for its superb autumn colour.
Apparently, the number of spirals in a sunflower seedhead is a Fibonacci sequence number...
An autumn of 'lasts'
I've been clearing out the polytunnel, cutting down the finished tomato and squash vines and preparing it to overwinter some young plants. Since we expect to move before spring, this should be the last time I grow tomatoes in this trusty 10 year old polytunnel. We've just collected the last crop from the two apple trees and there are doubtless many other 'lasts' to come as I clear the garden for winter.
It also feels odd not to be planning ahead - I'm not planting more bulbs or garlic, or sowing overwintering salad as I planned to. It will be a different sort of autumn, wondering what I can dig up and take without leaving an obvious gap and optimistically taking the wrong sort of cuttings at the wrong time of year. There are no shortage of plants where we are going, it's just that I get attached to the actual genetic stock of a particular plant and like to take it with me if I can.
In the meantime there's plenty still to enjoy today. Euphorbia 'Silver Swan', Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' and a white fuchsia do a great job of lighting up the border under the birch tree. Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C. Buxton' looks oddly out of season with its primrose yellow flowers but still looks as good in October as it did in June. Helianthus salicifolia is a patient plant, waiting until the very last moment to flower. I love its fireworks-like soft green foliage - not so sure I'm going to like the flowers though but we'll see.
White and variegated plants help light up the shady birch border
Anthemis E.C. Buxton, still going strong
Helianthus salicifolia has yet to flower though it's now October
Back to college
I'm back at Reaseheath every Thursday for the RHS Advanced Certificate. Although we're going back over ground we covered for the L2 (General), there's quite a bit more detail and the big extra so far is the plant ident. We need to be able to identify about 375 specified plants and seeds. I thought I was OK-ish on plant identification, but then I realised that I know what I know and that that's nowhere near close to enough.
Anyway, someone had the bright idea of taking digital photos of the samples and publishing them as an aide-memoire. So if you are interested, or also taking the RHS Advanced, here's the link to the photo store. We'll be adding to it as the year goes by. The link is also under 'Links' in the right hand column.
Link to Reaseheath 2006 RHS plant ident photos
Autumn colour
I planted this border 10 years ago and it still works a treat each spring and autumn, delivering a rich band of colour around this corner of the garden well into November.
It's a mixture of Spirea 'Limelight', Sedum spectabile, Fuchsia Mrs Popple, Potentilla 'Elizabeth and Rosa 'The Times'. I add a few annual fillers each year, but otherwise they are all easy, trouble-free and hardy. I shall definitely repeat this when we move.
Did I say we were moving? The house will go on the market later this week. Moving the plants will take longer than moving the interior of the house I think. The teetering pile of pots in the shed will finally have a purpose in life.
The purple petals of Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple' match the purple salvia flowers almost exactly.
Bishop of Llandaf in its element. 
Chaucer is still producing the occasional bloom
Leycesteria formosa gets a poor press for being a bit common, but I like it (takes one to know one)
I love the delicate veined flower of Geranium sanguin- eum var. striatum
I know this is a Spirea, but I don't know which one. It's a dull plant except for its superb autumn colour.
Apparently, the number of spirals in a sunflower seedhead is a Fibonacci sequence number...
