Leaves create tapestry of colour
The November sky might be grey and brooding, but I didn’t let it dampen my mood as I headed out into the garden this morning — I was determined to get the last of my tulips planted before the weather turns any colder. This late in the season, a day in the garden seems all the more precious, and I was intent on making the most of my time.
I started by cutting back the long, arching canes of the English roses — they will just whip around in the wind this winter — better to cut the roses back by about half now and then they can be pruned for shape in the spring.
Several precious buds were salvaged and tucked into a vase for the dining room table — the final gift of the season. A few shovels full of composted sheep manure were piled around the base of each bush, a little extra insulation for winter.
Cutting back the roses gave me a chance to spend a little extra time in the front garden — to slow down and appreciate some of the rich colours of the season. The ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese maple is a blaze of fuchsia leaves that seem to get brighter with each passing day. About half the leaves have fallen, blanketing the bed beneath the tree with colour. Shaded by the maple, this garden graces the front entrance and is home to a quiet grouping of Japanese painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum), autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), coral bells (Heuchera) and hosta.
Even this late in the season, these plants are proving their worth in the garden. The Japanese painted ferns and autumn ferns are surprisingly sturdy despite their delicate appearance. Nearby, hardy clumps of coral bells, dressed for the season in deep shades of purple and silvery-blue, show no signs of slowing down. The rich colouring, intricate veining and deeply scalloped edges of the coral bells, sometimes lost against the dark soil, really pops against the fuchsia coloured leaf mulch. Around the corner, a row of hosta (Hosta ‘Halcyon’) sports handsome, cool blue foliage throughout the growing season. Dipping temperatures have painted the leaves in shades of honey and amber to close off the season. Once the temperatures dip below freezing, the leaves will be bleached of all colour and they collapse, the leaves pull away easily at this point. It’s a good idea to remove the foliage of hostas in the late fall to deter slugs and other pests from overwintering in the leaves.
The temperature is mild and the rain is holding off, so I don’t mind spending a little extra time in the front yard. The bed under the living room window was revamped this year, so it needs new spring bulbs. Before planting the tulips, the lavender edging the bed is trimmed back by about half — the scent of fresh lavender is a bonus this late in the season. I will leave the final trim until spring, when I can see the new shoots coming out. Leaving perennials standing helps to catch and hold the snow, which acts as an insulator during the coldest months.
I’m adding 50 Triumph ‘Flag Assorted’ tulips in pastel shades, and a fringe of grape hyacinths (Muscari) this combo will provide a cheery welcome to our front entrance. Part of the appeal of planting tulips is the sense of anticipation it provides — looking forward to cheerful blooms next spring.
The final project today was planting tulips in the circle garden. This space is a pleasure to work in no matter the weather. A hedge (180 centimetres tall) of miscanthus grass encloses the garden, creating a sheltered, cosy space. As I clear the annuals from the bed, the scent of lavender, thyme, oregano and rosemary fills the air, reminding me of the summer garden.
The last calendulas of the season continue to bloom, with abundant shaggy orange petals and button centre surrounded by black stamens, they don’t seem to mind the cold.
This bed will host vibrant tulips in shades of red, purple, orange and yellow—after a long winter, the bright colours will be a welcome sight from my kitchen window — Triumph ‘Princess’ tulips in shades of red, pink, orange and yellow with deep purple flames at the base of each petal, and double, Peony-flowered tulips in similar bright colours.
It’s time to head inside, I just felt the first drops of rain, the tools have been tucked away in the greenhouse until the next warm day lures me back into the garden.