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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Autumn Progresses

It's November and some of the deciduous trees in my garden stand bare while others are are covered with colorful foliage and a few haven't started changing color at all yet.  How nice it would be if this time of bright colors could last longer.

We've set our clocks back an hour which means that the time of coming home in the dark has returned and I'll only be seeing the garden in the light on weekends again for a time.  Come with me on a Saturday walk around the garden. 

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' was a small tree when we moved to this garden 21 years ago.  I considered removing it many times but now I'm so glad I didn't.  It's coloring up for autumn and a few leaves have started falling.


Maybe this cordyline will get dragged into the greenhouse if the weather gets really cold.  It's such a nice large specimen.

Ditto for this one. 




 What's this yucca thinking sending a bloom spike up at this time of year?  Fingers crossed that Agave 'Mr. Ripple' doesn't rot this winter. 


Trevesia aff. palmata or Brassaiopsis dumicola has put on a lot of growth since leaving it's six-inch pot. 

While it's sad to see the growing season coming to an end, winter and the following spring clean-up will do a nice clean-up of the cacophony. 

Mahonias blooming to the delight of our year round hummingbirds. 

 Tick-tock Tetrapanax buds,  time is running out for you to open!



Cotinus 'Royal Purple' gets cool patterns on the undersides of it's leaves as they change into their autumn outfit. 


Clematis 'Nellie Moser' didn't bloom much this year as she got clematis wilt. She sprang back and somehow found a stem of Cornus sericea ‘Hedgerows Gold’ giving it some nice autumn blooms.



Looking toward he bamboo grove. 

 As the leaves begin to fall, the buddha at the top of the pond is once again visible. 



Cardiocrinum giganteum seed pods ripening.

Maybe I should pick the persimmons before they're all eated by the damned squirrels. 

Meanwhile, out on the sidewalk...

I just got done raking and blowing the leaves off the walk in time for a bit of strong wind on Saturday night to cover it again. 

Looking the other direction. 

There are too many plants in the parking strips but how to choose what to get rid of.  Euonymus europaeus 'Red Ace' is definitely a keeper for it's great seed capsules.

Cylindropuntia  found free by the side of the road four years ago is doing it's cold weather drooping thing.

 These two always look happy.


Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' is starting to bloom which it will continue doing through spring.  I'd never want to be without this sweet plant.

We'll end as we walk back in the side gate to the back garden.  
Hope you enjoyed this little walk about. 

12 comments:

  1. Your 'Bloodgood' is so large now, it really makes a statement. Good thing you left it. My garden is looking very wind-blown too -- I really have to look hard to find a satisfying view.

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  2. I did enjoy it, very much. Lots to love out there.

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  3. What a wonderful walk through your fall garden! 'Bloodgood' is magnificent. The shot of your Cotinus sent me outside to check on mine, the leaves of which usually just turn brown following the onslaught of the hot, dry air of our Santa Ana winds. I was pleased to see a little touch of color on some leaves - then I glanced over at the mulch covered path next to the bed and found the raccoons had dug up the entire thing up overnight. Happiness can be so fleeting...

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  4. Its a color fest in your back yard jungle. I soak it all up; our gardens will look quite a bit different by the end of this month. Very cool patterns on the Cotinus leaves. I noticed a germinated Cotinus volunteer in the front garden: a free plant!
    Unless the persimmons can ripen indoors, you might as well leave it for the squirrels :-)

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  5. You guys know how to do autumn. Fabulous.

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  6. I certainly did enjoy the walk around. So many luscious plants. I like the way that cotinus shows its spots when going over. It is difficult to decide to remove any plant in the garden even when you don't especially like if it fills in nice.

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  7. Having been in your garden, I can picture it as I go on this walk with you. Nice. Since your visits to your garden will only be weekly now, you will see more rapid changes, too fast for those of us who love the growing seasons.

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  8. There is so much to see in your garden. You must have 1000s of plants!

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  9. I think this is the best year yet for my mahonia and my variegated yucca is doing the same as yours. The flower spike is fully open now and looks very pretty with the autumn colours round it. You have reminded me to bring my cordylines into the shelter by the house, thank you. This is a very colourful time of year.

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  10. What a joy! Your gardens are a treat to see any time of year.

    Happy November ~ FlowerLady

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  11. I liked your virtual tour around the garden Peter. What Cotinus 'Royal Purple' patterns! Very pretty. I also noticed that your garden is so large, looking along the path in both sides. The many plants are healthy and I hope your clematis is well next spring.
    Autumn is so colorful season in the garden!

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  12. 'Red Ace' does have great seed capsules. I think there is a related American species of this plant that rejoices in the common name of 'Eastern Wahoo'.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.