November 2005
Turning right out of the back door and the leaves from the silver birch make a lovely carpet, reflecting the colours of the tree above.
Looking past the slver birch across the lawn we can catch a glimpse of the autumn colours that we will look at closer as we wander around the garden.
A quick glance behind us show the steps up to the patio and back door. The urns aren't really my sort of thing but they seem OK there for the time being at least.
On we go, down the right hand side of the garden. the hydrangeas are lovely with the frost on them and the pampas is doing its stuff
A quick close up of one of the hydrangea heads!
Glancing across the lawn again and we are getting closer to the stars of the show at this time of year!
... and here they are. The reds of the acers and cornus are stunning and the frosty mornings seem to have made them redder than ever. This corner of the garden hasn't thawed out this weekend but it doesn't seem to worry these hardy specimens.
The pond hasn't yet frozen over but the fish have taken to the depths to escape the freezing cold weather.
This seat, by the pond, is one of our favourite places to sit (when it's warmer) as we can watch the fish playing and listen to the running water.
Back on the path and leaving the pond behind us, we'll now venture up the other side of the garden but not before a quick look to the left...
The cotinus is not to be outdone for colour with its lovely rusty red and the ornmental grass looks really sparkly with the frost on it.
Off we go. The dahlias are lost (probably forever) as I wasn't here when the frosts came so didn't get them out of the ground in time. I'll leave them in a see if they grow agin next year but I'm not expecting them to!
The robinia has lost all its leaves (we've had a general leaf clear-up since the photos were taken) and will get its annual pruning early in the new year.
A glance behind us across the garden sees the yellows of the choisya and spiraea mixed up with the other autumn colours.
The silvery colours of the gravel garden are highlighted by the frost. The birds seem quite pleased to see us when we feed them and the peanut feeder has to be refilled on a regular basis for the bluetits. We even had a nuthatch visit us recently.
Turning around, we can see the hardy fuschia, still with flowers on (albeit frosty ones!)
The shed is full of geraniums, lavender (baby ones) and other non hardy plants. They have their own heater that runs up our electricity bill nicely. Our new rhubarb is in pots in the cold greenhouse as instructed.
We have 3 acers in the garden now. The largest one was here when we got here, the next one was bought with my leaving money from HSBC a few years ago and the latest addition joined us last year and is still tiny but seems to have settled in well.
Here are a couple of close up pics of the two established acers
The silver bed is across the lawn. The big fir tree is home to goodness knows how many birds. We encourage them with roosting pouches and a feeder in this tree but I think the sheer size of it is a magnet in its own right.
The smaller tree (on the left) is a eucalyptus - we keep it fairly well under control so it doesn't take over the whole garden.
Back up the right hand side of the garden and it's almost time to go inside and get warm.
Up the steps onto the patio. This year we're growing ornamental cabbages of various sorts in the tubs. The three urns have anemones in (or rather they did - only two of them have now as the squirrels have dug one up and probably eaten them!)
The skimmia japonica always looks lovely in Winter with its red flowers and shiny green leaves.
Finally, one of the strangest pictures I've ever taken of a flower. A rose in full flower covered in frost - absolutely beautiful but really strange.
