November 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere

[johnralphcarpenter]

Yes, they're all recent cultivars with Rosa persica in their ancestry, hence the dark centres.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks for that info - Ralph, very interesting. (I've got a weak spot for dark  centred flowers!)

[shelagh]

Just a couple of pictures of plants which are brightening up a dull, but fingers crossed, dry morning here in Bury.

The Aster ericoides is in the front garden but the Sax. fortunei's are kept in a cold frame. Conwy Snow is the larger pot at the back.

[Gabriela]

Cheerful pictures Shelagh! I don't want to think about snow yet  but your S. Conwy Snow is superb, one to look out for!

[johnstephen29]

Verburnum x bodnantense dawn has started to flower here, as always beautiful little clusters of flowers and a great scent. Also in flower in a shady corner underneath a hydrangea is Lithrope Muscari, tall spikes of blue, both of these are great to see when not much else is in flower.

[David Nicholson]

I've just finished digging out the remains of my Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'. It was attacked by Viburnum beetle a couple of years ago and in spite of regular spraying it was decimated last year and it was time to put it out of it's misery. I was able to save a nearby V. tinus cultivar by cutting it back to around 60cm high.

Here is how 'Dawn ' started.

[johnstephen29]

I've not seen anything like that David, I hope I don't.

[Michael J Campbell]

 Asphodelus acaulis

[shelagh]

Gabriela do you grow Aster ericoides?  When I was researching it I seem to remember it came from Canada as well as north USA.

[Robert]

With cool frosty nights and some rainfall there has been some autumn leaf color - at least on the trees and shrubs that did not burn up during the summer and early autumn.



This chance seedling Hamamelis has colored well - most of the leaves on the grafted varieties partial dried up, however they have survived the summer drought.



Our giant 35 year old seedling of Parrotia persica is also starting to turn color.

P. persica 'Vanessa' defoliated then leafed out again. The new leaves are still green. Most likely they will not turn color this year.



Viburnum bitchuenese. Great fall color, brilliant red berries, and white flushed pink flowers with a delightful fragrance. From wild Korean seed via Ferris Miller (many years ago).  This species has always been a keeper! 



Geranium macrorrhizum looking good with frosty leaves this morning.

[Gabriela]

Gabriela do you grow Aster ericoides?  When I was researching it I seem to remember it came from Canada as well as north USA.

I don't have to, it grows on the margins of the roads and such here  The species grows taller than the cultivar though.

[Mark Griffiths]

Another classic mid winter flowering alpine Ranunculus calandrinioides. I grew this from AGS seed and this is the first flower. A bit suprised it germinated and that it was true.

[Roma]

Still a bit of colour here.

Rudbeckia
Osteospermum - planted with a black pansy.  The pansy was looking good up through the Osteospermum while it was having a rest and now it's flowering again the pansy is having time off.  Maybe they'll get it together next year if I can keep the Osteospermum alive
Sedum 'Herbstfreude'
 

[Roma]

I was given some Nicotiana sylvestris seedlings last year.  Too small and too late to do much though 2 or 3 managed to produce a few flowers late in the season on dwarf plants.  When I started to pull them out the first one looked as if it might survive so I left the rest.  I forgot about them and they were hidden by other plants but when I cleared the dead foliage the other day I found at least three had survived.  This is the best one but I'm afraid the summer has been too short and too cold.

Oops.  Forgot the picture

[Robert]

Despite 4 years of drought and water restriction this past summer the woodland garden is looking okay with a considerable amount of fall color on the trees and shrubs.



A general view of part of the woodland garden.



Acer palmatum 'Ornatum' - looking great. 



Acer palmatum 'Tsuma beni' - It consistently turns brilliant scarlet-red.



Acer palmatum 'Tsuma beni' - close-up.



Acer japonicum 'Vitifolium' - it burned a bit from lack of water, however some of the leaves have turned a nice color.