Autumn Leaves

 

The clocks have gone back, it is now dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home. I think that’s why I use garden spotlights, because otherwise I would never see the garden Monday to Friday. I have been quite depressed about the onset of Autumn and Winter – the loss of the light evenings and warmth. But . . . . .  now the clocks have changed and it is definitely Autumn / Winter, somehow I feel happier. I can accept the cold and dark, appreciate the misty, frosty days . . . . enjoy the colours of Autumn and the, soon to be, skeletons of trees. I’m also looking forward to the garden being largely clear of its summer lushness and being able to get more distant views. I think . . . . .  I might . . . . like Autumn / Winter!

Here’s a quote:

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
Albert Camus

The lawn is now getting covered in leaves and the garden is looking very autumnal:

The once tough-looking Hosta ‘Frances Williams’ is looking like a very old person – a bit wrinkled and wizened but very colourful and full of character:

Hosta la Vista!

So . . . for some reason I feel very positive and I’m going to scuff my way through the fallen leaves to the pub tonight! . . . . It is KMS!

Hosta 'Frances Williams'

Originally uploaded by emagen

Hostas are not what you might call exotic or tropical but they are architectural. I probably have 30 or so different varieties but stupidly I never took the trouble to properly label most of them.

They are, of course, great plants for shade but can also be planted in less shaded areas. They combine very well with ferns and, I find, Heucheras.

Slug and snail damage is a great problem but there is plenty of advice on how to deter these critters if you don’t like using slug pellets. Some varieties seem less prone to slugs and I’ve found ‘Sum & Substance’ to be particularly resistant.

The photo above is of one of my favourites: Hosta ‘Frances Williams’. Its large puckered variegated leaves look really good and this plant now makes a sizeable clump. It grows amongst the roots of a very large tree in the company of ferns, Heucheras, Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona', Macleaya cordata and Geranium macrorrhizum.

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