Thursday 2nd.

Last weekend I removed a large thorn tree and more than half reduced the height of the Hornbeam hedge at the drive end of the orchard where the chicken run used to be. The result is that I can now see the Sasanqua camellias which were rather hidden, especially the two bred by Bob Cherry from his Paradise series which are doing well this year. Also all the Sasanquas are flowering well since it has been so mild this Autumn. Rather nice that the Viburnum japonicum beside these Camellias has berried really well this year, and they are a nice contrast with Camellia Gay Sue intermingling with it.

                            Camellia sasanqua ‘Paradise Glow’

                        Camellia sasanqua ‘Paradise Vanessa’

         Viburnum japonicum berries with Camellia ‘Gay Sue’ behind

Monday 13th.

Narrowly avoided a frost as the temperature last night dipped to a smidgeon off zero degrees, but I went to inspect the Mexican Dahlia sp. from Nick Macer and found it beginning to flower and so far so good.

                                Dahlia sp. ex Mexico Nick Macer

It’s a shame that it doesn’t want to flower any earlier in the year whatever I try to do to encourage it. It has become really too bulky to lift and in any case that would be difficult with the other plants next to it.

Tuesday 21st.

The Autumn colours seem to have improved after many leaves were blown off the trees in the high winds a few weeks ago. The leaves that were left behind seem to have now decided to do their stuff, especially the yellow/golden autumn colours which have taken on the glowing intensity in the late afternoon light that we saw (admittedly, about a 100 times brighter) in Canada. Ginkgo biloba spreading form is especially good this year and has become enormous. Acer japonica Osaka-suki and Senga-kaku have also been great.

            Acer japonica Osaka-suki & Sengakaku (foreground)

            Acer Sengakaku with Osakasuki in background

Elderly Betula utilis at sunset (Spreading form Ginkgo front right)