November 19, 2006

October 2006
The start of October starts with lower temperatures and squally heavy showers. In fact much lower temperatures especially during the nights - down to 6°C (October 5th). However abscission (leaf fall) is still not taking place. The birch leaves are just beginning to turn brown. The odd branch on one of the snake - bark Acers is just turning red otherwise all the other Acers are still very much green. Some of the Acer palmatums are showing new growths after the exceptional September temperatures.
On the 8th the crinkled leaves of Ash, Fraxinus excelsior, are everywhere on the side. Approximately half the leaves on these on these trees have fallen. The leaves of Birches, Betula utilis and B. ermanii have turned a buttery yellow. Acacia melanoxylon, Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii and many of the Polystichums are still growing apace. Even after heavy rain (and high winds) the spring lines are still not running and parts of the garden still have dry soil.
By the 14th the warm weather continues, with some days almost like summer with average temperatures over 17°C and evening temperatures well above average. Now a few leaves on the Hamamelis mollis 'Pallida' are turning their characteristic buttery yellow. Acer cappadocicum 'Aureum' leaves at the top of the tree are turning yellow red.
17th October - noticed that Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Son Flower of Zhejiang) is in full flower for the first time. This shrub has been planted in front of the two bee hives - fancy taking a photograph - here is the camera (bees will attack if you stand directly in their flightpath!). The leaves of Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' are now turning their characteristic fiery reds. Many of the leaves on the Hamamelis mollis 'Pallida' are buttery yellow. Slowly Autumn is taking hold but it is still mild and daytime temperatures on the slope (a microclimate) are up to 25°C. Even though it has rained quite heavily, areas dry out very quickly. Plants in pots have had to be watered, some wilting badly.
The Hamamelis has started to flower again (28th October) before the leaves have dropped. This seems to be a trend over the past few years, although the Corylopsis pauciflora has not yet started this irritating phenomenon. Many plants in the garden seem to have taken on a new lease of life with these above average temperatures. Amazingly most of the ferns are still growing putting out new fronds. Kalmia angustifolia 'rubra nana ' is full of flower as if it were Spring! Cautleya spicata has produced fruits, this is the first time one has noticed this, one assumes this is due to the hot summer. Some of the photographs below illustrate the unseasonal flowering and growths of some plants.
24th - now the temperatures are falling with night time temperatures down to 7°C. The wind has turned to the North West, rather than the warm West - South West.

Impatiens aff. omeiana	Nerine bowdenii 'Mollie Cowie'	Bomarea boliviensis	Aster hayatae BSWJ8790	Begonia sinensis detail
Cautleya spicata fruits general view	Cautleya spicata fruits detail	Kalmia angustifolia rubra nana	Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida'	Lonicera periclymenum 'Sweet Sue'
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca	Rhododendron unknown hybrid	Rhododendron 'Thackers Ruby'	Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha'	Schefflera taiwaniana young growths
Leycesteria crocothyrsos autumn 2006	Boenninghausenia albiflora	Viburnum tinus 'Gwenllian'	Heimia salicifolia	Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'
Corydalis anthriscifolia 'Blackberry Wine'	Impatiens omeiana	Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'	Skimmia japonica 'Scarlet Dwarf'	Begonia chitoensis BSWJ 1954