Autumn Glory

Published on by Catherine

I hope no one objects, especially our host, Jim, but I’m combining two weeks of six photos this week. One should have been posted last weekend, but in life, things happen. With me, it was a recurrence of a neck problem. Photos were ready, but I wasn’t.

I’m combining both because this will be my last week of Six on Saturday posts until next year, either in late winter or early spring, I expect what happens in the garden might decide. I hope to continue to post when I have anything worthwhile to show and say, you never know – I might even manage to get a few more photography posts online. That category has needed attention for a long time.

I have a growing number of projects to complete at home over the next few weeks, then during the October school holidays one of my daughters and her family will be arriving for a visit and finally during November through early December, I’ll be flying off for a few weeks, visiting another of our daughters and her family in the US.

But meantime, let’s get on with some garden photos for Six on Saturday:

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Romance’. I grew this beauty last year and fully intended to gather the seeds. I didn’t. I forgot. I’ll do my best to gather them this year as the plants are quite expensive to buy, even when they’re on offer.

  • A gorgeous rudbeckia
  • Rich colours
  • I need to remember the seeds

I also grew Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Glow’ last autumn, but this year they haven’t performed as well as they did back then. They have stubbornly remained as singles when they should be semi-double. However, they do add a bright splash of colour to the borders.

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Glow’

Free Roses. These two roses were grown from cuttings many years ago. The parent of the lovely soft pink is no longer in the garden and I don’t know its name, but I love the gentle colour. The second, deeper pink, is ‘Bonica’ and three or four other ‘Bonicas’ are still growing well in various borders.

  • Rose, name unknown
  • Rosa Bonica

Cosmos ‘Double Dutch Rose’ has been featured here before, but it’s such a pretty specimen that I had to include it for one final time. On the whole, most of the cosmos are still producing flowers, but some are doing better than others.

Cosmos ‘Double Dutch Rose’

Rosa de Rêscht has also been featured previously in the blog and is still flowering well. It’s an Old Rose and charming with its many layers of petals. The grower’s information mentions that the flowers are held above the foliage, though I’ve noticed that they prefer to stay hidden beneath its leaves. However, a little adjustment showcases them beautifully.

Rosa de Rêscht

Dark Red Hydrangea. This one stopped me in my tracks. It was a hazy, still morning when I spotted it and it forced me to stand and stare for a good few minutes. Just a few weeks ago it was a deep, rich red and now it’s fading to what I can only describe as a soft mauve-taupe colour. To my eyes, it’s utterly beautiful.

  • Transformed from dark red…
  • …to a soft mauve-taupe

Aster novi-belgii ‘Patricia Ballard’. This aster has grown reliably since it was planted several years ago, but its companion, ‘White Ladies’, planted at the same time is nowhere to be seen this year.  Aster ‘Patricia Ballard’ is a tall (1m) and strong plant, always providing a huge splash of colour during September and through the first few weeks of October.

  • Aster Patricia Ballard
  • Also known as Michaelmas daisies

Dahlia ‘Chat Noir’. I thought I’d lost this dahlia as I can’t recall it flowering in 2023. But – lovely surprise – here it is, growing well in one of the borders, still looking dark and dramatic with lovely open petals. Last year’s dahlias have been flowering, mostly with damaged leaves thanks to earwigs – and snails that I pick off the plants daily. Few of the tubers purchased this year have made much impact in the borders or pots, but I think they’ll be better next year – with the help of some warm sunshine. I live in hope.

  • Dark, elegant & dramatic
  • Dahlia ‘Chat Noir’

Dahlia – an unknown variety. The label is right at the bottom of the plant, but at the moment access to it is difficult. I’ll retrieve it when the tuber is dug up for winter storage. The strong glow has been achieved with backlighting. The flower was facing downward and was photographed from below.

  • Glowing dahlia
  • Back shot, different flower.

Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’. This Japanese anemone flowered earlier this year than usual. It’s already beginning to look a bit tired, but while it’s in bloom its bright white flowers are very welcome. At 1.2m in height, it dwarfs most of the other anemones, but unlike ‘September Charm’ it doesn’t seem intent on taking over the entire garden.

Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’.

Osteospermum ‘Purple’. Bought from the local garden centre, this osteospermum has been flowering its socks off all summer and is still growing strongly with plenty of buds waiting to open. It’s not hardy enough to get through the winter here, but I’m going to try overwintering it in the cold greenhouse, or the cold frame. My greenhouse & cold frame combined probably aren’t big enough for the long list of plants that are heading that way to seek shelter from the cold and wet.

Osteospermum ‘Purple’

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Velvet Flame’. We’re now back to where we started – with this week’s feature image. New this year, this latest addition to my small ‘Enchanted’ collection of three is described in the marketing blurb as ‘sumptuous’. I would agree 100% with that. This is a fabulous Rudbeckia. They are frost-tender and I know, like the Osteospermum above, they won’t survive the winter. They’ll be potted up and found some shelter along with many of the other tender perennials that I insist on buying.

  • Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Velvet Flame’
  • Stunningly beautiful.

I can’t leave you today without mentioning the weather. After a truly awful summer, this week has been the most glorious, sunny, warm and unexpected gift to us here on the west coast of Scotland. This has been true summer weather. It won’t last beyond next Monday evening, but that’s ok. My garden needs a thoroughly good watering and I’m sure the fields need it too. So, here’s to autumn!

Jim at Garden Ruminations hosts the Six on Saturday meme. If you haven’t done so already, pop over to his site using the link where you will meet lots of other like-minded gardeners.

Well, lovely gardening friends, I hope to still visit your blogs during my absence but meantime, all I can say is that I hope you have fabulous autumn weather and that your gardens will be ablaze with glorious autumn colours!

Catherine ☺️ xx

28 thoughts on “Autumn Glory”

    1. This year, even my ever-reliable Rudbeckia ‘Marmalade’ seeds had a poor germination rate, and the few that did germinate failed. Many of my seeds were the same and I said that was the last time I was buying and sowing seeds. But, needless to say, I’ll try again this year. There’s always one more final attempt, isn’t there?? 😁

      Can you remember which plant you spilt, Rosie? I need to do a bit more division instead of buying new plants

      Like

    2. I don’t know the variety it was here when we arrived. It is a yellow one with red petal tips. I split the plant and over wintered them in the greenhouse, then planted out in Spring.

      Like

      1. Thanks Rosie, that encourages me to try overwintering them. The rudbeckias are not large enough for splitting yet, but the first stage is to try getting them through the winter months.

        Like

    1. Thanks, Fred, I’m hoping that the rudbeckias manage to get through the winter. When you have to buy new plants every year you don’t really have the experience of seeing a more established plant in flower – unless, of course you plant several of the same variety together.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Well, you’re certainly ending your 2024 Six on Saturdays on a high – smashing photographs, especially the unknown Dahlia that seems to glow at the centre. Lovely. I hope you’re neck has recovered – I often do something to mine (no idea what though) and end up a bit tortoise like sometimes.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks, Graeme. The neck problem won’t go away, I just have to manage it – that means no lifting heavy pots around the garden! Much to husband’s dismay, as he has to be on hand more than in the past! 😆 But, he’s willing and that’s the main thing. Keep those photos coming – and even more of the strawflowers will be welcome. Mine are probably doing better than most in the garden right now – an they’re an absolute must for next year! I might even try the seeds again. 😂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh I think I like being an Ambassador, Noelle! 😁 I would like the next few months to be fairly restful, though I know I’ll be busy – but hopefully enjoying it! Thank you, I hope to keep posting every now and again.

      Like

  6. First of all, I’m sorry your neck has been playing up, hope you feel better very soon. A fabulous display of flowers, all lovely. I do have favourites of course, the Rudbeckia hirta ‘Enchanted Romance’ and Dahlia ‘Chat Noir’ – the dark side. I shall miss your posts and look forward to you returning to the fold. It sounds like you will be busy in your absence so happy times to you in the interim x

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your kind words. All is well with my neck at the moment, I’ve lived with the problem for many years but just occasionally it floors me. I hope I’ll have time to post every so often, and time to take a stroll around everyone’s blogs too. Keep going with your highly entertaining blog – it always makes me smile. Enjoy the autumn months ahead!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. As a fellow sufferer of neck problems I empathise; I’ve learned ways to do many things differently so as not to aggravate it but some things simply have to be done by someone else!
    Anyway, this week’s photos are stunning, as ever, and I couldn’t possibly choose a favourite. I added “Enchanted Romance” to my wishlist until I saw that the Enchanted series are tender, that makes them a “no” for me even though they are beautiful.
    What a lovely reason to be away from SoS for a while, I hope you have a wonderful time catching up with family.

    Like

    1. I can sympathise with you, what you say is absolutely correct! (But sometimes it’s hard to hand over!) I hope you have a lovely autumn, Helen, full of all the delights that only autumn can bring, when the weather obliges. 🍁

      Liked by 1 person

  10. All so beautiful Catherine! Your photos are as lovely as ever and I am so glad you finally got some nice weather to finish off the summer. The last deep red Rudbeckia really is a gorgeous colour – hope you can manage to keep them all through the winter. I have not tried the tender sorts and only grow winter hardy ones. But should I decide to experiment one year, I must definitely look out for the Enchanted series. Thank you for all the inspiration the last six months, and Happy Autumn!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The sun is still shining, Cathy, though temperatures have dropped and it feels autumnal now. It will rain next week and the scarves and gloves are laundered and ready for use! These rudbeckias are tender perennials and although we don’t get extremes of cold here, it’s usually the rain and cold winds that do the real damage. I’m optimistic that they’re capable of surviving in the greenhouse or cold frame – but the result of the experiment won’t be know until well into next year.

      I’ll pop by your blog whenever I can – I enjoy seeing your vases. 😊 Have a great Autumn and keep enjoying your garden and life in Bavaria!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Oh I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open for those gorgeous dark red ‘Enchanted’ rudbeckias next year Catherine. Thanks for tempting me 😂 My seed grown rudbeckia ‘Sahara’ staples sadly really struggled this year. Enjoy both your visitors and visit and hope to see another blog post from you sooner than later.

    Like

  12. Oh my goodness, I will miss your posts for Six on Saturday…they are always among my favorites. Such amazing plants and blooms, and your photos are incredible. In this post, the Rudbeckias, Asters, and Roses are my favorites, although all the plants/photos are incredible. That peachy Rose…dreamy!

    Beth @ PlantPostings.com

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Hi Catherine, I confess it is difficult to post six every Saturday, especially going into the winter. Like others I have enjoyed your garden sixes and amazing photographs.

    My favourites this week are Cosmos ‘Double Dutch Rose’ and the white dahlia 🙂

    Like

Comments are closed.