Leaves as bright as jewels!

Leaf fall on the old oak bench on a dull autumnal day down in the Woodland Border.  

Lessons in Bonsai Pruning

Two weeks earlier

Isn't just great when one has a Bonsai expert on hand!  Before replacing broken chimney tiles, Chris G. gave my most precious Acer (ie the one my Daddy gave me) the once over.  Because it's on the side of the path, it's important not to have twigs and branches projecting at eye level.  Rather than just prune it back, Chris has tied some branches down and showed me how to prune back to a pair of horizontal buds rather than a pair above and below each other.  It's over two years since Chris manhandled it out of its pot and showed me how to prune the roots before repotting it.  It's now so big, I couldn't imagine ever being able to repaeath that exercise! The leaves on this Acer are almost black in spring and even though most have now fallen, just see how vivid they are.  Perhaps I should mention that it's an Acer dissectum atropurpureum - just in case you're wondering!

The girls.....

.......chilling on a Sunday morning!

Recycling an old oak barrel

We've been planning to recycle this old oak barrel which has been sitting in the Creosote Yard for quite a long time.  In fact - a very long time! It took Chris (Genever) to get things up and running.  On the garage door canopy, Chris has put up guttering and down pipes, cut out the top of the barrel and installed a rain diverter.  The idea of the diverter is that when the barrel is full, excess water is diverted into what has always been, a very dry border under the garage window.  I shall now have a handy water source for watering pots and tubs at the front of the house.  The lid is awaiting some minor adaptation and the barrel aperture is just wide enough to dip in a watering can. How much nicer is this to look at than a plastic water butt?  Now we can recycle both an old barrel and the rainwater inside it.  We are just left wondering what the original contents might have been - hic!

October colour

In between what seems like a lot of projects on the go simultaneously, I couldn't fail to notice the colours on these five Acers.  This little collection seem to enjoy the shelter of the old cottage chimney where they enjoy protection from direct summer sun and cold winter winds.  In winter they also have the warmth from the chimney itself.

Rain Chain in Action

Our American rain chain

Sometimes rain is welcome even when it's not needed for plants.  We have been waiting to see how our new rain chain performs in heavy rain and with today's really vicious squalls and downpours it saw some real action! Pity these aren't sold in the UK - with our annual rainfall statistics, there's a definite gap in the market.  This one is made out of copper and over time will go a lovely shade of green as it weathers.  We can't wait to see it adorned with icicles!

Changing colours

Pheasant Berry (Leycesteria formosa)

As the days become shorter, it's difficult not to notice the changing colours in the garden at this time of year - even on the dullest day. 

It's no wonder that the birds are attracted to the shining  Pheasant Berry fruits.  The clashing day-glow orange and pink of the Spindle fruits could only occur in nature! Apparently, this Euonyous is so called because spindles were actually made from its wood and the fruits are poisonous enough to to have been used on arrow tips. 

Although the leaves of the Witch Hazel are very similar to our native Hazel (Corylus), it is not related at all.  Not only do the leaves look spectacular in autumn - much more so than our native Hazels, it's one of the earliest shrubs to flower in spring and the little spider-like yellow flowers are highly fragrant. It was first used by American Indians for skin remedies. It contains hydrosol which is an astringent and is still used today. Winners all round!

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Mollis)

Spindle (Euonymus europaeus)