Gardening.qxp_Layout 2 23/09/2020 10:33 Page 1
GARDENING
With summer’s fanfare behind us, it’s time to seek out new attractions. Frost-covered sedum makes for a pretty focal point
Seasonal stars It’s getting chillier, days are shorter and all the signs of autumn are here, but there’s no need to put the garden into cold storage until spring, says Elly West
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ear-round interest is high on most people’s garden wish list, and there are plenty of plants to choose from that will keep the colour coming. With summer’s fanfare behind us, it’s time to seek out new attractions. Some plants continue to offer vibrant flowers, but the forthcoming season also brings the more subtle charms of berries, fruits, leaves and stems. It just takes a bit of planning for a garden that will bring surprises and fresh elements to enjoy whatever the time of year. When I’m designing a border I usually aim for a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, flowering perennials, grasses and bulbs, so that even the smallest space rings seasonal changes. I keep a mental scorecard, with around a quarter of the plants at their best (or at least doing something) for each season, to maintain continuity and balance, and to prevent the garden looking too static. But plants are notorious for not obeying the rules. Who hasn’t experienced the joy and mystery of a rogue flower, totally out of season? As I write this in September, I’m looking at a sprinkling of burgundy goblet blooms on my Magnolia ‘Susan’, a spring-flowering show-stopper in my front garden. And with semi-decent weather and a sheltered spot, many summer flowering plants don’t seem to realise they are supposed to be having a rest, and will keep going until the first frosts and beyond. It’s not uncommon for pelargoniums and even roses to throw out the odd flower into November and December. Maybe it’s a result of climate change, but I’m not complaining. Late bloomers such as sedums, heleniums and red-hot pokers will bring fiery colour through autumn, prolonging the warmth of summer into the cooler months. And there are many flowering shrubs that are grown for their cold-weather displays, including winter jasmine, witch hazel and mahonia. It’s the evergreen shrubs that provide the backbone of the winter garden, often going unnoticed in summer but providing necessary structure in autumn and winter, especially beautiful with a light frost and 72 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
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OCTOBER 2020
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No 193
spidery dew-laden cobwebs sparkling in the sunlight. Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’, any kind of topiary, and architectural plants such as phormiums or fatsia can play starring roles over the next few months. Variegated evergreens are also a good choice, great for brightening a shady corner. Try green and white Euonymus fortunei ‘Silver Queen’, which can be trained against a fence or wall. Where space is at a premium, each plant has to pull its weight, preferably with seasonal changes to look forward to. This is why I think every garden should have at least one tree. A crab apple, for example,
Aim for a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, flowering perennials, grasses and bulbs, so that even the smallest space rings seasonal changes
will provide spring blossom, fresh green leaves, fruits and autumn colour, plus height and structure all year long. The leaves of Japanese maples are glowing with autumn shades of red, orange and yellow right now. And, of course, silver birch is a classic for its distinctive white, papery bark, all the more striking in winter when the leaves fall. I also love dogwoods for their colourful branches. Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ is a particular favourite, with glowing stems in shades of orange, pink, red and yellow through the winter.