THE WEATHER -

A cool and showery start to the month, but very mild weather followed, with relatively warm sunshine for a few days from the 4th to the 7th. Turning dull and colder on the 8th though, with an easterly wind. A beautiful autumn day on the 12th, with warm sunshine and a warm breeze. Dull and cloudy on the 13th though, followed by rain and gale-force winds on the 14th. Turning very cold with overnight frost towards the end of the month, and a mixture of sunshine and showers. Warmer by the 29th, but with heavy rain for most of the day. A beautiful sunny morning on the 30th, and mild for the time of year. Maximum temperature 12°C (56°F). Minimum temperature minus 2°C (28°F).

One of the pleasures of autum is seeing the different berries and seedheads which are in the garden. These wonderful berries belong to Arum italicum 'Chameleon'. This is an interesting plant which grows from tubers, and has larger leaves than either the native Arum italicum, or the more widely grown A. italicum 'Marmoratum'. The leaves also have a different marbled pattern on the leaves than A. italicum 'Marmoratum'. The typical aroid flowers appear in summer, followed by plump spikes of berries which are a beautiful green at first, very textural, and develop into vivid orange as they mature. These remain throughout late summer and autumn, after the leaves have died away. Before the berries ripen completely and begin to drop off, the new leaves begin to emerge again this month, so that there is wonderful value from this plant. It likes a shady position, and mine are growing under the dense canopy of a large Corylus avellana 'Contorta' (Contorted Hazel), where it seems to be very happy. The plant has also seeded itself in various other parts of the garden, the seeds having been carried around by birds or rodents.

Foliage is an important feature of the garden at this time of year. One of my favourite foliage plants is this Brunnera 'Jack Frost'. This is a relatively new introduction, both to horticulture and my garden, but I'm very glad to have it! It has the most wonderful leaves - heart shaped and silver with dark green veins. Each leaf is finished off with an outine of lime green. Although the plant has pretty blue forget-me-not type flowers in summer, and the odd flower later on in the year (including this month!) it is the foliage with makes it such a winner! Brunneras are herbaceous perennials which will die away during the worst part of winter, but at the moment, mine is still looking fabulous!

Nerines are bulbous blants, and need a sheltered, well drained position, preferably in full sun. The leaves appear in summer, and are followed by flowering stems which appear as the foliage is dying away. I grow mine in pots on the south-facing patio, and this year they have flowered particularly well. They are still flowering well, and this one has just started into flower this month - albeit very late! It is a beautiful variety called "Stephanie", and has the palest shell-pink flowers. Superb!

This beautiful miniature rose is still flowering well this month. I bought it from Tesco's last year as a patio plant, and it has grown very well since then. I couldn't resist its lovely velvety red flowers, and it has been a mass of flowers all summer long. I expect the frost and the cold, wet weather we have been having will soon make it change its mind and go to sleep for the winter. A wise decision........

One of the compensations of autumn is the beautiful colouring exhibited by various plants. The pictures above show three plants whose autumn colouring has been stunning this year. From left to right they are: 1) Cornus kousa chinensis, a large shrub or small tree which bears beautiful white bracts in late spring. 2) Cotoneaster horizontalis, a horizontal shrub whose small leaves are borne in a herringbone pattern. This will also grow vertically if planted against a wall or fence. Masses of red berries beloved by the birds are also produced in autumn. 3) Vitis coignetiae, a vigorous vine with large leaves which will very quickly cover anything over which it can climb! It does produce grapes, but these are very small and bitter, with thick skins - best grown as a decorative plant, I think.

That's all for this month...... Happy Gardening!!

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Robin, Rook, Seagull, Starling, Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Wren.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army