Autumn Colours

Around the garden we have quite a collection of Sedum's (Sedum spectabile), gradually the are coming out in flower and as they do they attract masses of insect life to them.

Bees of all types busily wander over the flowers, while Butterflies flit from head to head gently sipping the nectar.

Dahlia's are still blooming quite vigorously, giving loads of colour in the garden. Regularly dead heading is needed to keep them going right up into October or until the first frost touches them.

  The taller dark leaved variety is one of the Bishops children and is fronted by a single flowered and double flowered dwarf dahlia. All are easily started from seed around March. They are terrific for Bumble bees giving them a really good source of food well into Autumn to keep them going over winter.

No garden should be without some kind of berry bearing shrub to supply birds with free food that will help them fatten up for Winter.

Pyracantha or Firethorn can be easily trained against a wall to make an eye catching display. Earlier in the year it is covered with masses of pure white flowers, then the berries create a marvelous display. Birds love the berries and will strip them in a few weeks as they ripen.

Another shrub to grow is Leycesteria formosa or Himalayan honeysuckle, Pheasant berry, flowering nutmeg. It grows to just over 6 feet in height and has lovely hanging purple racemes that end in small white flowers. Eventually the pollinated flower forms a purple-black berry.

The berry itself is loved by numerous birds especially the Blackbird and as the name suggests  Pheasants. The berries are fairly sweet in themselves and taste a little bit like sickly toffee, some say like treacle. If you don't believe me try a taste, myself I'm not too keen on the flavour.

  Leycesteria formosa

Soft succulent berries forming under the purple bracts.