Between Rain and Storm…

Between rain and storm, we had a beautiful afternoon and, although we didn’t manage to “carpe” the entire “diem” we made the most of what came our way.

Several trees in the garden are at the best of their autumn colour but that foliage will most certainly be gone by tomorrow. Storm Callum is about to arrive, prompting an Orange Weather Alert for winds of 130kpm and danger of flash flooding. Fortunately, we are not in the most threatened corner of the country and will, hopefully, escape relatively lightly.

Nonetheless, it was an afternoon to enjoy what colour there was in the garden for tomorrow it could well be gone.

Parthenocissus henryana overhanging a garage window – discovered by Dr. Augustine Henry in China in the late 1800s and introduced by Ernest Wilson. I haven’t noticed many comment that this plant has an attractive fragrance as the leaves colour – must like Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Even by mid-afternoon, Euonymus planipes was already looking somewhat lightly clad with leaves falling all the time. It will be bare tomorrow

Cladrastis kentuckea, American Yellowwood, turns to a rich buttery yellow, especially beautiful when caught in the sunshine – fabulous and short-lived.

Euonymus europaeus, Spindle Tree, always gives a fiery autumn display

Koelreuteria paniculata, the Golden Rain Tree, has had an exceptional year as, thanks to the unusually hot summer, it produced an exceptional amount of flower, followed by the bladder-like seed capsules and now it has coloured fabulously for autumn.

Cercis siliquastrum‘Forest Pansy’ has exceptionally beautiful summer foliage but follows with equally attractive colours in autumn

Crataegus prunifolius, The Cockspur Thorn, produces its autum colour early and has now almost lost all its foliage but the display will continue with the generous crop of haws.

Another Cockspur Thorn, Crataegus crus-galli, gives an equally colourful autumnal foliage display followed by a great crop of haws. Note the vicious thorns!

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Besides, enjoying the colour and taking photographs, I also did a few odd jobs and a speedy run about with the lawnmower to keep the grass in trim so as not to face high grass in spring when the ground is wet and soft. Gardening, as you may well know, does involve some work!