Winter planting

Photographed in November,
A late hibiscus

 nerines

 ahlstromeria

 dahlias

 pineapple lily

 heather and cyclamen

 winter pansies over bulbs

Last gasp

These were taken before the frosts and horrid wet weather
That wonderful corydalis

 the mixed border

 dahlias in the greenhouse

 pots

 the last roses

 hot lips and friend kaffir, front

 and back

Late flush

Scenes from the front garden over the past week
phygelius

 leycesteria formosa x 2

 caryopteris

 asters and kaffir lily

 phlox

Autumn fFoliage Colour

Leaves are a useful source of colour, especially in autumn.

Absolute Stars

These stars have been especially good value.

Corydalis, originally brought (legally)  from Darwin's garden at Down House. 

It has flowered all year, seeds itself around in a friendly but not thuggish manner.

County rose, Hampshire. In flower most of the year, even on Christmas day. Has grown in deep shape as well as sun (now the leylandii hedge has been removed).

Leysesteria formosa - shrubs, hedges, birds love the berries, seeds around easily even in terrible soil.

Modern rose, has flowered most of the year.

Phygelius, cape fuchsia. In the right spot (allowing roots to run in poor stony soil) it will fill a barren patch. To stop it becoming an enormous plant, plant it in its pot with the bottom removed - then it won't spread sideways.

Pineapple lily (Eucomis). 

This one has set itself in a rough crazy paving and endured minus 20 degrees.

Some Like it Hot

Kaffir Lily, with asters behind

 First frost - mandevillia and friends (including cats)

Hot lips, front, kaffir lily behind

and other way round

Dahlia, 'Sunglow'

Cyclomen, with yellow heather

Cosmic

A frost last night so tender plants are coming in to shelter. More on that later. The plant on exhibition today is the cosmos - I always thought that a cosmos was a cosmos - but look at these beauties, all from the same packet of seed. Wonderful show for October, along with Japanese anemones, verbena, and sweet peas.

And this final group, I never noticed the trumpets before - a bit like a Tornado fighter...