October 2004

December 31, 2005

October 2004


Clematis 'Gravetye Beauty'	*Hedychium greenii*	Sorbus aff. aucuparia perhaps	Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' 2004	Stewartia pseudocamellia 2004
17th October 04 - the first colours of Autumn are beginning to show. Acer japonicum Acontifolium has turned its wonderful vinous red, Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' has turned a buttery yellow, both Betulas on the side have turned brown, the snake bark Acers are just beginning to colour. Unfortunately winds have played havoc this year and Fraxinus excelsion, Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus and Crateagus monogyna have lost the majority of their leaves. Oddly the Acer palmatums have lost some of their leaves, but also have put a new spurt of growth. Clematis 'Gravetye Beauty' is at its best. Many plants are dying back. Autumn is with us! A Sorbus seedling inherited from a previous owner has produced a wonderful crop of pinkish berries. The Fuchsia bush near the path at the back is still covered with flowers and is being worked enthusiastically by the honey bees and wasps. 20th October - how things change so quickly, autumn colours are now really beginning to show with many species showing autumn tints.

Hypericum androsaemum 2004	Chrysosplenium languinosum var formosanum spreading near top pool	Chrysosplenium languinosum var formosanum spreading top steps	Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' specimen at back of garden 2004	Hints of autumn colours beginning

Acer cappadocicum 'Aureum' 2004	Acer cappadocicum 'Aureum' detail	*Gunnera magellanica, Chrysosplenium languinosum var formosanum*	Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' Autumn 2004	Acer davidii Autumn 2004
A peculiar month, but what is normal these days! Amazing storms, high winds and rain have been a feature. Most of these events seem to take place during the hours of darkness. Even though there has been considerable rain and some huge floods in the River Dwyfor nearby, there are still pockets of very dry soil in a number of places on the side. The spring lines are still not at full flow as they were at the beginning of the year. The temperatures have been mild with no air or ground frost as yet. Other parts of Gwynedd have had frosts for example Llanelltyd near Dolgellau has had two nights of frost with car windscreens frozen. The Ceanothus arboreus and Fuchsia still flower significantly, not just the odd flower. At the beginning of the month, trees in general were very slow to colour or drop. Only towards the end of the month has there been any significant autumn colouring and only fleeting at best. The first to colour was Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' and this lasted a week at the most. Corylopsis pauciflora was spectacular, but again lasting a few days before dropping all the leaves. Hamamelis mollis has only in the last week turned buttery yellow and has not dropped its leaves as yet. This has very oddly given an out of season flush of its wonderfully perfumed spidery flowers, but with the leaves still on the tree. Will this affect its flowering during mild spells through the winter months? We shall see! 21st October noted a ladybird on a potted plant of Buddleja colvelii. Where have the ladybirds all gone? This is worrying.

"That each day I may walk unceasingly on the banks of my water, that my soul may repose on the branches of the trees which I planted."- Egyptian tomb inscription.