On The Cover Susie’s Garden Early autumn abundance
The days of early autumn bring flourishing plants and produce
By September my flower borders have reached their fullest height, with some plants way above my head. I look up to see the taller varieties of aster, the white and scented bugbane and the Joe Pye Weed flowering against a blue sky. All three of these lovely autumn flowers are covered in butterflies.
The ornamental grasses are also flowering on the ends of tall stems and I love the way that the light catches them. When planting grasses it’s a good idea to position them so that the sun will be behind them to reveal their magic, especially when they are covered in dew. They also make a delightful sound as the wind passes through them.
The largest I grow is called Miscanthus giganteus and it lives up to its name at nine feet tall. It is hardy but you could use it to give a tropical bamboo-like effect.
At the opposite end of the scale, my tiny hardy cyclamen are little jewels in the shady border. With their marbled leaves and sugar pink upright petals, they live for many years and can grow in the dry soil under trees.
Nearby are pink autumn crocuses which I have divided and spread throughout the border.
In the veg garden there’s a mass of runner beans to find recipes for and courgettes aplenty. From the greenhouse come tomatoes and cucumbers to have with feta cheese and herbs for Greek salads. I cook the bumper crop of tomatoes to freeze for winter soups when I can look back on these sun-filled autumn days and dream.