AUTUMN LEAVES - SIX ON SATURDAY

1. I love the colours of Autumn Leaves.  I like them best when they have fallen from the trees onto the ground and they lie in a glorious mixtures of burgundy, rust, gold and pale green.

The leaf fall is not so great yet that they need to be collected up.  I can admire the leaves on the grass without thinking about that huge task still to come.

The trees are still holding most of their leaves, but the colour changes are fascinating.

2.  Those plants with red leaves seem to be the true stars of Autumn.  Of course this acer has its rich red colouring from when the leaves open in spring, but it becomes more intense now.

And this Rhododendron Luteum, that gorgeously scented yellow flowered azalea, is starting to change colour too.

3. We love a Globe Artichoke is this house, particularly when served with generous quantities of melted butter.  We had one plant which produced half a dozen heads this year, but its getting a little elderly, so I had bought a second plant this spring.  It was only 8 inches high back then, and has got up to about 5ft now.  I wasn't expecting it to produce anything until next year, so I was very surprised to find these two heads developing.

4. Looking Up.  
From Spring and all through Summer I find myself looking down at the ground, at the plants, admiring each one as it grows and flowers, whether they are old favourites or new treasures carefully tended.  But now there is less to distract the eye and the bigger picture comes into view.

On the left is the Long Border, subject of many recent posts on Dahlias, Rudbeckias and other late Summer flowers. Straight ahead is the path leading through the Rose Garden to the Oak tree at the far end of the garden.

5. Talking of the Rose Garden,  there are still flowers to be admired.  As I sit at the table and write this I can see them from the French windows that open out onto this part of the garden.  Open on the table beside me is the latest mini catalogue from David Austin roses which arrived yesterday, tempting me to add just a few more.

Rosa Buff Beauty

Rosa Munstead Wood

 6.  Six on Saturday is kindly hosted by The Propagator so I really should show something that I have propagated.  This is Verbena bonsariensis.  I know it's a popular plant, but I haven't grown it before.  I bought the seed rather late and it took longer to germinate than I had anticipated (I had almost given up and thrown them out).  The germination rate wasn't great either, but I have managed to produce five plants just in time for it to be too late to be worth planting them out.  On heavy wet clay I think it would be a death sentence to do so.  I'll try planting them out next spring.

Here they are looking forlornly out of the window at the rain.

If you would like to see more of what's happening this week in gardens from around the world,
don't forget to visit The Propagator where you will find all the links.