Hips, Berries & More

Published on by Catherine

It’s almost mid-October and perennials in the garden are slowly melting away. Several have tucked themselves in for their winter slumber while others are beginning to change their colours and drop their leaves. Garden jobs continue and bulbs are about to be planted in the borders; I expect there will be more to say about that in the coming weeks.

It has been a miserable start to Autumn and there’s no word that describes recent weather better than ‘dreich’. Last weekend’s storm is past history; it howled through the garden and left no damage this time. My sisters and sister-in-law were not so lucky, with damage to gardens and/or their homes. But on Thursday, the clouds rolled away and the sun put in a welcome appearance with forecasters assuring us that we will now have settled, rain-free weather for the next 10 days. Hopefully a change is underway, just in time for mid-Autumn walks in the park with crispy, vibrant coloured leaves beneath our feet. I can dream, can’t I?

But right now it’s time for Six on Saturday!

Berberis. This Berberis has dropped many of its leaves already and the berries are making an appearance. It has been in the back garden for over twenty years and I’m hoping that the gardener will take it out when he comes to prune the trees next month. In full leaf it’s a fabulous colour, but it has outgrown its space and I’m tired of warning people to stay away from it, as those thorns are dangerous. No matter what height you are, there are branches at eye level.

  • Just look at those thorns!
  • Small but vivid berries

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. I can’t recall ever seeing this sedum as deep and rich in colour. Each photo below shows a different plant. They’re all planted in the same area, though not together, and appear to have benefited from this year’s extra-dry and sunny summer.

  • The plants are all divisions…
  • …have grown large…
  • …and provide welcome colour

Peony Foliage. I like peony foliage all times of the year, but particularly in Autumn when they add colour to the borders.

Peony foliage

Skimmia ‘Rubella’. Skimmia ‘Rubella’ is hugely reliable and seems to cope with all that winter can throw at it. Evergreen, with deep pink buds that last throughout the winter months and open to tiny white flowers in early spring. I particularly love the matching wine-red trims on the leaves. The red stems are an extra bonus.

  • Skimmia ‘Rubella’
  • Evergreen – a worthy all-year plant.

Hydrangea. This unnamed hydrangea is usually very floriferous but didn’t produce a solitary bloom this year. Look at what it’s doing now! It’s in a large container, and probably pot bound. Perhaps rescuing it from the constrains of the container and finding it a home in the soil might help it produce flowers next year. The foliage is lovely though!

  • Trying to produce a flower
  • The foliage makes up for the lack of flowers

Rosa Rugosa Hips. I haven’t deadheaded many of the roses for several weeks now. It was a conscious decision as I thought I’d like to have plenty red hips during winter. I’m hoping for a few good photos of snow or frost on the leaves and berries. But if the second shot is anything to go by, there might not be any left by that time. Photo two – is it a nibble or is it a bite?

  • A nice fat hip
  • Something has enjoyed this one
  • Leaves are now changing colour.

That’s all from me this week. Be sure to pop over the Jim’s site at Garden Ruminations for a peek at what other home Gardeners have going on their gardens.

Wherever you’re located in this world, have a beautiful weekend and enjoy all that nature has to offer!

Catherine x

26 thoughts on “Hips, Berries & More”

    1. Other things do get in the way at times, Rosie. My garden soon might not warrant too many photos and I’ll have to take a winter break from the weekly ‘six’. I hope the other things you’re busy with are all good, fun or interesting! Have a lovely weekend.

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  3. That Peony leaf adds a wonderful hue to the autumn garden. Berberis are always great to look at in other people’s gardens, but I do try to steer clear of thorns, though I appreciate some thorns can look quite spectacular.

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    1. I was briefly tempted to start cutting off the lower branches of the berberis today, but then thought about having to handle it… 🤔 I think I’d be better to wait for the gardener!

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    1. Thank you, I’m rather sad that there won’t be any colour from the Japanese Acer this year – the leaves are brown and crispy – it hasn’t loved the unusually dry summer weather or the stormy weather of 2025.

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  5. I love the colors! The red berries and rose hips are very nice. Things are definitely moving to autumn. I have been busy removing some seed heads to prevent self seeding, or at least reduce it. New England aster is pretty this time of year but a thug.

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    1. I noticed on your blog that you’re expecting frost fairly soon. Our temperatures are surprising mild for this point in the year and if the forecast is correct, up to almost the end of the month.

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  6. Lots of lovely reds this week Catherine. Love the Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ I wonder if I can find any room for one? I too have a sad hydrangea that must be pot bound as it’s been in the same one since we moved here. Now can I actually get it out of the pot? 🤔

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    1. The sedums have proved their worth this year, Jude. They’re deepening day by day as the brighter crimsons are turned to a dark wine. Pity they won’t stay that colour for too much longer, but I’m really loving them this year. If you find an easy way to get your hydrangea out of the pot – do let me know! 😆

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      1. An old kitchen knife or better still a Niwaki hori hori trowel. I used one to empty my large glazed pots that hadn’t been emptied in years. Slide it around the edge. I will give it a go and let you know. But I have a feeling this terracotta pot is cracked so it might just fall apart!

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  7. I’m glad I’m not the only one who appreciates the fall Peony colours! I pity the gardener who is asked to remove the Berberis! I have a few dwarf varieties that I now have to start trimming in the spring so that I can get by on the path next to them with chins intact!

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    1. Yes – I can see the gardener might have thoughts about taking out the Berberis! I think I might try cutting off some of the branches with long pruners before he arrives! I’ll dress for the occasion – including goggles! 😆

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  8. I have a dwarf Berberis which I feature this week with its berries. The one I have has stayed a nice dwarf size for over 25 yrs now so hope that it continues to do so! Your Sedum is a lovely colour and I like your peony foliage very much.

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    1. I’ve looked at your Berberis atropurpurea Nana, Pauline and I think that would be a better alternative to the one that’s coming out. There’s little or no mention of thorns on sellers websites, and I wonder if the thorns would be as long and spiky as those on mine?

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  9. All the beautiful burgundies and reds! Autumn is looking lovely in your garden. It’s getting a bit of a slow start here, but I know the frost and freeze are just around the corner. I love the Skimmia! My Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ looks very similar to yours–kind of autumn festive, isn’t it? I usually cut back my Peony foliage earlier in the late summer/early autumn because the plants often had powdery mildew. This year, they seem to be OK, so we’ll see if the foliage colors. Enjoy your week!

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    1. It’s cooling here too, Beth, but I don’t think we’re going to have frosts this month (though the warm sweaters are ready & waiting!) 😂 I hope your peony’s foliage turns beautifully autumnal for you!

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  10. I don’t know why, but photos of rosehips always fascinate me and I love finding a perfect one in the hedgerows to admire! Your photos are lovely as usual Catherine, and all the deep pinks and reds you have featured this week are wonderful. 😁

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    1. They’re not only lovely, Cathy, but have so many other benefits. Food for wildlife, rich in Vitamin C, can be used in jams, syrup, added to autumn or Christmas wreaths…and probably much more. All those qualities combined makes them attractive and worthwhile to have in the garden. The only issue I have is not being able to deadhead the roses and having to look at the untidiness until the hips appear!

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      1. Have you tried drying them for making tea? It is absolutely delicious and I try to make the hips last as long as possible – we hardly had any worth picking this year so I am glad I have some left from last year!

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