October is one of my favourite months, not just because it's my birthday month but I just love Autumn and the changes to the garden and countryside. Last weekend we went to visit our daughter who lives in Bedfordshire. It was my birthday weekend and we hadn't seen them for ages. I got garden vouchers from them, so I can look forward to a day out soon to somewhere garden related to spend them, probably RHS Harlow Carr. We had a shopping trip to Hitchin where more things were bought and we had a lovely lunch.
Back home on Sunday I was struck by how the garden seemed to have changed in just a few days. Autumn had definitely arrived. Leaves had fallen and there seemed to be much more autumn colour. Where we live there are grass verges outside the houses with trees, mostly flowering cherry type which go a lovely colour at this time of year.
In the garden the grasses are now taking over from flowers. This one is Hakonechloa. It's not a tall grass, so it's good for the front of the border, under trees or by a path. It forms a clump and has lovely arching leaves. It changes colour from yellow to a lovely russet colour in the autumn and then through the winter it goes more straw like.
This one is a Miscanthus but I've lost the label so I don't know its full name. It's beautiful at this time of year. It grows lovely dark pink flower heads which later go fluffy as they open up. I picked some recently to go in a flower arrangement and they lasted well without dropping bits.
The Fatsia produces really unusual flowers at this time of year.
I let the hostas show their autumn colours before I cut them back for the winter.
The Liquidamber tree starts to change colour in late summer. It gives us plenty of interest as the leaves change and they are always late to fall.
Early on in October I potted up loads of Hyacinth bulbs for forcing. Hopefully some will be ready by Christmas. Our local garden centre has been full of cyclamens in beautiful shades of pink. I can never resist buying some for autumn container arrangements.
I am linking this blogpost to Sarah's blog at 'Down By the Sea' for her monthly
'Through the Garden Gate' post
