Leaves ….

I love autumn and the best thing about this time of year is all the fallen leaves.    We’ll never collect them all up but we spent a recent sunny Sunday collecting a huge amount.  We filled a builder’s ‘ton’ sack many times over (6 to be precise, I was counting) but it was pointed out to me that I hadn’t actually collected up 6 tons of leaves which was rather disappointing.   However there were lots and husband and younger son set about making a second wire enclosure to stack them in.  We always have the problem of leaf mould ready to use but flower beds not cleared ready to receive it and leaves falling and needing to be stacked.  Solution – two wire enclosures, why didn’t we think of it years ago?!     Most of the leaves are off the huge Red Oaks but are still firmly hanging on to the Silver birches and most of the other shrubs and trees around the garden and orchard.    Many more hours will be spent raking and collecting but well worth the aching muscles when it all turns to lovely crumbly leaf mould.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

There is still plenty of colour to enjoy in the garden.   Leaves on the shrubs and trees seem particularly beautiful this year, particularly  Viburnum plicatum which is a lovely deep red and Cornus kousa which is all shades of yellow and orange.   Even better, this Cornus is now taller than the boundary hedge and I can see its lovely coloured leaves each morning from along the lane as I return from my dog walk.  Hardy Chrysanthemums are a particular favourite and I have recently planted Clara Curtis which is spreading nicely, Emperor of  China finally seems to have settled down in this garden (it came with us from the previous garden and I have moved it around a few times) and is looking lovely this year.    A new favourite is Chrysanthemum  Dulwich Pink which I obtained through the Hardy Plant Society Conservation Scheme this time last year.   It has settled well in the garden, is growing strongly and I have propagated it to pass on to other members next year.   Salvia Amistad is another new addition this year and is planted in front of a rather lovely tall ornamental grass with Salvia Wendy’s Wishes in a pot in front.    I keep meaning to plant more Nerines and forget but the two that come up each year in the front garden are looking particularly vibrant this year.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

As the nights draw in I miss being out in the garden until late in the evening but it is nice to come in and light the woodburner and think about new plans for the garden for next year.    As I bring in the logs for the evening it’s a treat to look over the hedge into the adjoining farmland and see the mist rolling in, there are sheep in there somewhere well camouflaged!   And with Halloween just past I am glad to say the “children” still insist on having a pumpkin, although they are well capable of carving it themselves now.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.