Forget about Autumn Lets have an Indian Summer
Surprisingly, even way up north in Aberdeen the garden still holds on to a Summer look at the very end of September, and with an improvement in the weather, lets hope for an Indian Summer.
It makes me smile when I think of how often I hear people in this part of the world say–I wonder if we are going to have an Indian Summer— Well this is the honest to God truth, the only time I can recall such an occurrence was back in 1959 when I was 14yrs old. October of that year had warm sunny days when the kids were still swimming in the river. However back to the present and heading into October its quite clear that the garden is not all about flowers. Oh! here is some interesting information on the Indian Summer
The Filipendula Rubra with its bright pink candy floss flowers in July may well look magnificent. However after the blooms go over this is how it looks for weeks to come, foliage continues to look fresh and the copper coloured seed heads are equally garden worthy.
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I have noticed that some of the Thalictrums look messy very quickly in our garden when flowering is over. Not the Aquilegiifolium album. When the white flowers go over the seedheads at first have a purple hue and then turn a pale rusty brown, looking great for the rest of the Autumn.
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This one I have decided is my perennial of the year, Aruncus aethusifolius, what a little beauty it is and once again it looks great for months after flowering is over.
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Lets not forget what the berries bring to the garden at this time of year.
Once the flowers go over the apricot berries of the Hypericum magical beauty are quite stunning and stay like this almost until the beginning of Winter when they surprise us by turning jet black.
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All the Rowans in the garden are very ornamental in September and October, the Cashmeriana above is hard to beat with its marble sized white berries.
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In actual fact although foliage and berries may be the star attraction there is some flowers hanging on.
The Anemones Huphensis September charm and the white Honorine Jobert are pleasantly reluctant to give up. A true favourite at this time of year is the Sedum Autumn Joy, the picture shows how she looked on September 15th, the flowers are now a deeper richer shade. I have never known the common Montbretia to flower so profusely and for such a long period.
What an amazing Clematis is Perle d azur. Later this year in coming in to flower, not surprising when you consider how cool the Summer has been. However what a show it has given, climbing and tumbling over the garden arch and still looking great on the 29th of September. This year it has my vote as best clematis of 2011.
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Before too long the garden will be showing its full Autumn colours, in the meantime it is hanging on to that late Summer look
Although the Summer weather this year was disappointing, the garden showed no discontent other than our treasured and pampered kirengeshoma, which at the end of August came to grief with the gales and very low temperature.
There were days in Summers hottest months when the temperature fell to as low as 13c/55f, add a cold wind and you can imagine that it wasn’t very pleasant. Most of the time it was around 16/18c with a very occasional 20plus and rain, rain, rain. Spring however was beautiful and the end of September has been relaxing, outdoor, book reading weather. In a sheltered garden such as we have on a calm day if the sun is shining the temperature doesn’t have to be so very high to be pleasant.
These trivial weather conditions seldom keep me indoors and my heart goes out to those who have suffered intolerable heat, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Mark and Gaz, it was very short lived here.
Hi Alistair, glad to see that this unseasonal warmth has affected your area too! The Filipendula rubra is gorgeous, I’ve added it to my wishlist 🙂 And I love your shady border with the circular lawn!
Thanks Carolyn, Our unexpected heatwave was over in a flash. It was a pleasure to add your garden, sweeet!! oh no, makes me cringe with embarrassment.
Thanks Carolyn, I did add a link to my reply when someone enquired about the Indian Summer which also gave the information about the American Farmer, of 1778. It would have been more wise of me to have added this to the post, I may yet do it.
Carolyn In the past I always took for granted that the Indian Summer which people talked about here was a reference connected with the red Indians and not the Asians. I had this confirmed when I started to think a little more deeply about such things.
Our warm spell turned out to be very short lived Donna, fortunately I enjoy the garden regardless.
Hi Donna, yes the round garden is very much about foliage.
Hi Liz, the weather doesn’t quite bother me as much as I make out,(i think)
Hi,
Lovely photos, I always find it amazing how different the weather can be just a few hundred miles away! Here it’s been so very dry that grass was dead by June – my own struggling but I managed to keep it hanging on with occasional watering. I hope next summer is better for you; although the last few years has been quite bad for Scotland – I usually go up to the Cairngorms and it’s been awful for 5 years or so when usually it’s lovely.
Beautiful, Alistair. I love your circle garden dressed in all the green.
I’m with you Alistair. I long for a warm October. We have had cold, wet days but we will be treated to 70s this weekend and sun…your garden looks lush with beautiful foliage and lots of flowers still going…
Here is an interesting discussion of Indian summer: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/indian-summer.html.
So many plants have wonderful ornamental characteristics other than the one they are grown for (usually flowers), it is great to see you highlight some of them. Your gardens look like it is the heart of the season–very beautiful. So funny to hear someone in the UK refer to Indian summer–I thought this phrase was only used in North America because it refers to Native American “Indians”.
I for one will shout hurray at an Indian Summer… which it seems to be right now. Our Summer was way too short. Lovely post, Alistair and beautiful gardens!. And it was so sweet of you to include me on your gardens page. Thank you!
Hope you get that rain soon Vesna. Our warm spell came to an abrupt end after three days.
Kininvie, I suppose a sunny spot in Aberdeen may well be equivalent to semi shade.
Yes, Perle d’azure is very good once established – though I find its colour bleaches a bit if in full sun. Semi-shade might be better? Mind you, I can’t grow clematis any longer – the mice have developed a taste for them.
Hello Alistair, your garden looks beautiful. Obviously, you had more rain than we did here in Croatia. The warm weather continues but, we yearn for some rain.
Thanks Lona, I will look forward to adding more of these Aruncus to the garden
Thanks Linnie, I don’t think you would be let down with the perl d azure, may take a little time to settle in.
Thanks Martin, Its not hard work when it is something you enjoy.
Hi Alistair, your garden is looking wonderful, congratulations! I too love the Aruncus. Your Thalictrums are looking so much better than mine too.
Your gardens are incredibly beautiful ALL THE TIME. I don’t know how you do it. And the name of your blue clematis is now written on my “plants to get” list in great big block letters with two stars by it .
Your garden is always so beautiful. I love all of the berries that add color to your garden. The foliage of the Aruncus aethusifolius is gorgeous. Anemones are always a favorite of mine in the garden for late color. I am hoping for many days of Indian Summer too.
Wow! You do have so much Summer beauty!!!
Thanks Larry, if any of you would like to see spectacular click on Larrys site.
Hi Alistair…. the verbena bonariensis starts fresh from seed each season. Just saw your fall post… spectacular indeed!! Larry
Hi b-a-g, the growth of our plants is probably due to the high rainfall.
Alastair – Enjoyed your late summer/early autumn post. My favourite photo this week is of the round lawn surrounded by different textures and shapes of foliage.
(Maybe I should show the photo of your sedum to my sedums, to encourage them to work harder.)