It's That Time of Year Again

Spider time!  For the last month, most of us have been trying to avoid the fun of walking face first into spider webs in our garden.  It's also time for fog and rain that make those intricate creations even more beautiful.

Decorating the naked garage-soon-to-be-greenhouse.

Those are really huge!  

It's also time for the earlier of my Euonymus europaeus to split open it's fuchsia lanterns to reveal bright orange seeds.

What a fun color combination.

The orange abutilons dangling through the branches are a happy accident.  I didn't think the abutilon would make it last winter but it came through and is now about six feet high.

What signs of the season are you seeing in your garden?

Things That are Even Better Naked

You're probably way tired of me posting about Euonymus europaeus 'Red Ace' but this year the leaves were blown off by a couple of wind storms leaving the neon fruits on the otherwise bare branches. 

What a happy burst of color, especially on those gray autumn days.   When the sun hits this, eye protection of some sort is advisable.

 This shouldn't be confused with Euonymus latifolius, another loveable Euonymus which dropped it's fruit much earlier in the season before E. e. 'Red Ace' even started.

Callicarpa has also been featured here recently  but these berries are stunning after leaf drop!

Gaudy shows like this are perfect in the autumn!  O.K. who am I trying to kid, I love bright colors all year long!

 May your day be filled with bright surprises!

Euonymous europaeus 'Red Ace'

My Favorite Plant in the Garden This Week...

From the gospel according to Hinkley, (Heronswood: 1999 eueurre  p. 78)

"This selected form of the European Spindle Tree has exceptionally profuse crops of magical red-pink dingle-dangly fruit and orange-red autumn leaf color in full sun or partial shade in any soil. 

To 15'.  This acts as a beacon in our light woodland when in full fruit, drawing visitors across the garden to seek its identity."  Hardy to zone 5.

 

I wrote about this plant last year on October 26.  You can see that post here.  It's interesting to see that the leaves have changed color a little sooner this year.  Maybe silly to post about this plant twice but it is truly a gem and gives such a nice burst of color starting mid to late September.

You may recall that Euonymus latifolius was my favorite plant on September 3 of this year.  While that plant has long since finished blooming and is now shedding bight yellow-gold leaves, E.europaeus 'Red Ace' is still full of fruit.  These first pictures were taken about a week or so ago.

The next pictures were taken today.  The colors of the changing leaves along with the fruit is spectacular!

It can take quite a bit of pruning.  When I got this it was a nicely trimmed full shrub.  I tend to let things grow out a little more than I should so this looks a little wild but that works for me.

Just saying that if you want something a little more reserved, you can certainly make this shrub fit the bill.

 

The autumn foliage is quite lovely and also works well with the fruit. 

Some branches had this lovely dark wine red foliage which really set off the fruit.

For more information about this plant, look here, here, and here.

 Just couldn't stop taking pictures of this sweet plant!

My favorite plant this week is a meme hosted by my pal Loree Bohl, the inspirational writer of Danger Garden.  To see this weeks favorite plants of other bloggers click here.