November 29, 2006

November 2006
Beginning of the month was characterised by several nights of low temperatures - down to -2°C. This caused a number of plants to completely collapse. Amongst these were Impatiens tinctoria, I. aff. langbianensis, Salvia iodochroa, Cautleya spicata, most of the Hedychiums except 'Tara' which has remained unscathed. A number of plants showed damage due to young foliage being produced due to the previous period of very mild weather. Schefflera taiwaniana and Fatsia polycarpa had new growths decimated although the older parts of these plants seem fine. Narcissi hybrids are now showing.

Cautleya spicata frost damage	Impatiens aff. langhianensis frost damage	Fatsia polycarpa frost damage	Impatiens tinctora frost damage	Salvia iodochroa frost damage
Schefflera taiwaniana and others showing frost	Leucosceptrum stellipilum v. formosana	Begonia sinensis frost damage	Hedychium coccineum 'Tara' no frost damage	Dahlia imperalis frost damage
Euphorbia x pasteurii	Silene dioica november 2006	Ipheion uniflorum 'Charlotte Bishop'	Corylopsis pauciflora autumn colours 2006	Hydrangea macrophylla 'Quadricolor' late flowering 2006
How suddenly things can change from one day to the next! On the 21st November, the Corylopsis has lost most of its leaves. The Metasequoia has hardly turned its characteristic rusty brown autumn colour, it has just dropped its leaves overnight. Most of the snake bark Acers, the Betulas are now bare. The Cornus kousa var. chinensis turned various shades of vinous dark reds and now is almost bare. The leaves of the Enkianthus cernuus f. rubens have turned a buttery yellow and are dropping rapidly. Most of this change has coincided with lower temperatures and very stormy wet weather. The spring lines are just 'dribbling'. Omphalodes cappadocica 'Cherry Ingram' has just a few flowers showing. The Cautleya spicata by the front door has been totally flattened. Oh yes, I almost forgot the Osmunda japonica has a wonderful russet autumn colour to its fronds as it prepares itself for its winter dormancy. The garden is lurching rapidly towards its winter state. 25th and the Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea' has now thrown a batch of its wonderful pinkish bunches of flowers on a bare tree. The Cornus kousa var. chinensis has lost its leaves and they cover the lawn. All the Acer palmatum's at the back similarly have lost all of their leaves which now cover the paths with their autumnal colours. Storms, rain, dull weather seem to be the weather pattern with suprisingly mild temperatures both day and night averaging around 11°C.
'Children are a plant substitute and we haven't the wit to see it until too late' - Jill Tweedie, Guardian.