Jo's News and Views No 11 November 2022

Hello Everyone

Not sure if I should mention the weather as I think we have all had enough rain now. I was pleased to have visited the garden early in the month because by the end of the month nearly all the leaves had been stripped from the trees. The Autumn colour was beautiful while it lasted so here are some of the delights I enjoyed.

I am starting with the house as it is always impressive. Especially if there is blue sky and sunshine around, photos 1 and 2.

The pond is lovely too, all year round. The Liquidambar styraciflua, known as the Sweet gum tree, was taking centre stage when viewed from the house, photo 3. Then the Taxodium distichum or Swamp cypress was on the bank opposite the Pond Terrace, photo 4. This tree had already shed many of its leaves probably because of the heat through the summer and now the heavy rain has washed a lot more away. So, it is not looking as stately as it usually does at this time of year. The Liquidambar styraciflua by the pond is the last one of the three in the garden to become fully autumnal as it is shaded by the large Holm Oak near it, photo 5, and by the end of the month it was looking lovely, photo 6.

Nearby in the Pergola area, the Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea', a Teinturier grape. The leaves are a wonderful shade of red at this time of year and I love catching the sun shining through them, photo 7. In the bed in front of the Rose Garden there was a wonderful mix of planting, photo 8. The salvias around the garden have done so well this year. Onto the Wild Garden where I found the Rhus typhina, the Staghorn sumac, in full Autumn colour, photo 9.

Walking out of this area I moved onto the Hollow Lawn where the Ginkgo biloba leaves were turning the beautiful buttery shade of yellow that is their trademark, photo 10. The leaves have a crinkled edge which is very attractive, photo 11.

Moving into the Kitchen Garden I found a few Silybum marianum, Milk thistles, photo 12. The flowers are lovely, and a few have been left to add interest to the pumpkin patch. The newly restored Cold Frames run alongside the pumpkin patch and look very smart, photo 13. Around the other side of the glasshouses was the third Liquidambar styraciflua, photo 14. This tree is in direct sunshine for most of the day, so all the leaves had turned into amazing shades of red.

Leaving the garden, I stopped to enjoy the roses along the path at the edge of Bowling Green Lawn. Still flowering well into November, they have done so well this year, photo 15. Then on the Front Lawn I noticed this patch of Sternbergia lutea, photo 16. Although they look like crocuses, they are actually in the Amaryllis family and are also known as Winter daffodils.

Finally, my fauna selection. Those naughty parakeets were around the garden, photo 17. The ringed-necked or rose-ringed parakeets became established in the UK in the 1970s after captive birds escaped or were released. They are a bit of a problem in the garden because they do like to eat young shoots and seeds. This next bird is a first for me at the garden. It is a Blackcap, photo 18, and was searching for insects in the climbing vine on the house. The robin was trying to work out what time it was, photo 19. Last of all, I spotted this fox over the fence, photo 20. Perhaps not actually in the garden but very close and worth including.

I hope you have all enjoyed my wander around the garden.

Best wishes

Jo