Some Autumn Structure

                                      

The leaves are falling and the bare bones of the garden are beginning to be exposed. This year I've been  aware of the way there has been a sudden re-flowering of many plants in the garden and of the way other things have lasted way longer than expected. All of which makes for some unusual November scenery. 

Stately dead echium

Fallen echium

                                                                             

The echiums, those stately plants of the forget-me-not family which can grow to 16ft high (in my garden they must be about 10ft) gradually dried up and then one windy day simply fell over. They are triennial, which means it takes them three years to reach full height and once they've flowered, they die. They seed everywhere so I always have one or two in the garden at different stages of maturity. Mine all come from a seedling I was given ten years ago by a sculptor friend in Cornwall.  (She used to spend a couple of weeks in the summer staying with friends on the Canary Islands - and that's one place where echiums come from.) 

Two privets and a glimpse of magnolia on the right

                               

The four round golden privets are an amazing bright yellow,  they really come to life when the sun comes out. They should have been cut well back this year, but that wasn't possible. They are evergreen, and even though a bit whiskery, they still make a structural statement in the winter garden. I'll get around clipping them when I can. 

Autumn Magnolia stellata

                                              

There's a little Magnolia stellata that goes a very pretty old-banana colour. It doesn't last long, the leaves fall quite soon but for a while it balances the privets in colour and shape.

Two golden privets with a glimpse of magnolia

The grape vine, a black grape whose name I don't know creates a minute arbour against the wall and above an old French-café- style folding chair. It has tiny fruit that look attractive but are no good foreating as they are full of pips - no room for flesh. I used to pass them on to a friend to make wine, otherwise I use them as table decorations. The chair is extremely uncomfortable so I mean to replace it one day. 

Tiny gapes in tiny arbour

                                           

The clipped yew hedge ( which I have managed to clip) shows up to good effect in autumn/winter. One end is finished off with a Rosa glauca - a cutting from my sister - which keeps its hips for ages so providing a bit of encourageing colour. 

Yew hedge with Rosa glauca

                                                  

Then there's the lime tree. Now that its neighbour, the ash next door, has been felled, it shows up all alone against the sky. 

                                                

You can buy echiums from  Hayloft Plants Ltd., The Pack House, Manor Farm Nurseries, Pensham, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3HB.