There’s no denying it. The leaves are falling and every now and then a cold night sneaks in. It’s time to move to those autumn/winter jobs. I left two tomato plants standing after the big greenhouse clear out but even those must be dealt with now. The mower blades will be set to high as the mower is used to collect leaves and tulip bulbs will be planted. This weekend I will take the scented leaf pelagoniums into the greenhouse but I needed a some more compost for their over-wintering pots, Of course that was fatal:
One
A trip to the garden centre, even at this time of year, is a dangerous thing. Compost was purchased – peat free of course – but the route back to the exit went via the reduced bench and there were a few 3l pots of Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’. Well they might as well sit in my garden as stand in the garden centre, don’t you think? Especially at a bargain price of £4.50 a pot. They’ve gone into my new orange and magenta border. Dreams of next summer already!
Two
Speaking of borders here is the long border in its autumn clothing. It’s definitely winding down here. The asters at the far end keep going but the roses are putting out smaller and smaller flowers and the autumn crocuses were felled by the rain.
Three
The cuttings of salvia ‘Amistad’ were growing so strongly that I decided to pot them on. I used a very gritty mix to start them off and the root system had developed well. I’ve got six at the moment in the hope that I can get three through the winter.
Four
In the front garden the hydrangea that this year flowered blue has faded into the usual autumn colour. I enjoy its muted tones at this time of the year. I was not so fond of the blue, a result I think of the mulch it received last winter.
Five
Also looking autumnal in the front garden is my mystery plant. It does flower but I never seem to catch a photo of it. The single black berries are very attractive. I think it is some form of cotoneaster.
Six
The greenhouse clear out meant bringing in the romano peppers. A few had just about ripened and a week in the kitchen has moved them on a bit more. Time to eat them!
A cold night is forecast for Sunday and my evergreen agapanthus are already showing a few yellow leaves. The time for fleece has arrived. It’s also time to see who else is taking winter precautions. A trip to Mr P’s site is called for. Who’s still got colour and who is wrapping up for winter?
n20gardener 
Leaves are flying off the trees in the blustery weather. Some are suddenly starting to look a bit bare. I like the red leaves of no. 5.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Totally Tangerine’ is a very good choice You won’t be disappointed. These peppers look tasty. Mine are over now.
About fleeces, I will start tomorrow because our first cold night is forecasted on Wednesday
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are my first and last! I think the greenhouse is just too much in the shade.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My trees are bare from the last few days. Keeping my eye on garden centre bargains but nothing great yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Fred – you can’t beat Totally Tangerine. Personally I love orange flowers in the garden.
LikeLike
It’s looking very autumnal in your garden – lovely colours. I’ve grown a lot of yellow and orange flowers this year and have really enjoyed them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh goodness! I remember that mysterious black berry from last year! I can’t believe I can’t identify it! It still looks like aronia to me. Does each berry have a single big seed in it? Could it be a beach plum?
Anyway, I am sorry I missed all these last week.
LikeLike
This year I received a strong possibility! Cotoneaster Villosus. Insignificant flowers in summer – which I always seem to miss! Mystery solved?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that ‘sort of’ looks like it. The leaves on yours seem to be thin, like those of a plum of some sort, but I really don’t know what it is supposed to look like.
LikeLike
Cotoneaster Villosus. We have one. It isn’t very common and the bees go crazy for the very unimpressive small white flowers in the summer. It’s grown for its berries and autumn colour. There’s a summer pic on the first of our “Plot Continues” blogs on 1st June here https://socialeready.com/the-plot-continues/
LikeLike
Thanks for the id, you are right about insignificant flowers in summer but it does look good in autumn. I couldn’t find it on your Plot continues pages but there where some lovely roses and the Portuguese garden was a tonic for this time of year.
LikeLike