Autumn 2017
This American oak (Quercus rubra) seedling (above) was brought back from New England by Adrian some years ago. Collected at Walden Pond, Massachusetts. It is now a 20ft tree and has amazing autumn colour.
As we have developed more autumn colour over the years, we will be extending the opening of the gardens until 12th November 2017 – keep an eye on our Visit Us page for further details.
Here are some of the fantastic comments we have received from autumn visitors –
“Beautiful planting and glorious autumnal colours.” – Tracy & Isla, 8th October 2017
“Wonderful autumn colours and a fascinating range of conifers.” – Kate, 26th October 2016
“Absolutely spectacular – the different types of grasses and the mixtures of textures and colours are brilliant!” – Ana, 27th October 2016
In October the late asters put on quite a show in the Dell Garden and Foggy Bottom. This compact form is called ‘Small-ness’, which is featured on our nursery pages. Behind is the striking form of Pinus sylvestris ‘Lodge Hill’ (full story in Adrian Bloom’s Gardening with Conifers).
Summer-long contrast … continues into autumn. In Foggy Bottom in mid-October Geranium ‘Rozanne’ in the foreground is finally losing energy in flowers, but the golden-leaved Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’ and purple Berberis thunbergii ‘Dart’s Red Lady’ will intensify in colour before leaves drop.
Late-flowering agapanthus are still green, contrasting against Molinia caerulea on an autumn day.
New plantings of this Acer rubrum ‘Brandywine’ are bound to be an autumn hotspot on the pathway between Adrian’s Wood and Foggy Bottom.
Still leaves hanging on in early November on the striking specimen Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ and the fading perennials and grasses still remain attractive until Head Gardener Jaime Blake starts to cut back later in the month.
One of the little-noticed but beautiful trees in Foggy Bottom are the two specimens of Quercus frainetto, the Hungarian oak, near Matt’s summerhouse and the lower pond. Here the leaves mix with golden maples to form a carpet.