Whatever else people might feel about autumn, I am pretty sure they would still admit that the seasonal colours are beautiful. Personally, I am always bowled over by these two witch hazels, Hamamelis ‘Ruby Glow’ and H ‘Zuccariniana’; H Diane in front of them is not in the same league. In the top corner you can see the ‘tree house’, currently having a paint job following its refurbishment with a nice slate roof and a new floor.
The witch hazels vary tremendously in their autumnal habits, some like the two above and bronzey H ‘Magic Fire’ below flaunting their disposable new coats, whilst others like H ‘Arnold Promise have lost all their leaves in a blink of eye, although the latter provides a different interest with its generous provision of seed capsules:
Most of the larger trees are showing autumnal signs, but there is still a long way to fo as you can see looking beyond the paved area and sitooterie to the woodland beyond and next door’s huge beech tree on the left:
The leaves on Amelanchier lamarkii have moved – possibly overnight on one of the nights when temperatures have dipped to 4ºC – but are just as lovely on the stone circle as they are on the tree:
I was admiring Cornus ‘Westonbirt’ on Lead Up The Garden Path earlier, but had forgotten how dark the leaves were my own C alba ‘Sibirica’, albeit largely gone now. The stems show great promise for the winter months though, as do those on C sericea ‘Flaviramea’ and C sanguinea ’Midwinter Fire’. Aren’t they gorgeous?
But what’s that post? Oh – it’s a ‘dovecote’…
Christina of My Hesperides Garden ably encourages us to observe and appreciate our foliage more and hosts a monthly meme for us to share the best bits, so thank you to her for hosting and do visit her blog to look at other foliage around the world. However, my favourite foliage in the garden at the moment has undoubtedly got to be this corner at the other end of the shrub border, with Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’, Ophiopogon replanted from the rockery when it was dismantled, Persicaria ‘Painter’s Palette’ and Carex ‘Everillo’ – I love it. True colours are indeed beautiful…
Rambling in the Garden 
Lovely colours Cathy, and that last image is a perfect example of how foliage contributes to our garden pleasure.
Thanks Christina – and perhaps the best thing about this foliage combination is that it was unplanned and came about serendipitiously
That sedum and company do make a great fall scene.
Thanks Susie – I love to look at that corner and it in truth it is like that most of the year although the sedum darkens during the summer
Lovely colours. I do like those dark leaved sedums – I just have the normal type. Your two witch hazels are stunning.
Thanks Annette – I intend to add more sedums next year as I am beginning to appreciate them much more these days
They are great little plants. I am looking for more things that don’t need a lot of looking after and I think they fit the bill.
Oh I agree – although I believe the darker leaved ones might not colour up as well in the shade so that’s worth bearing in mind
That is true. Good point.
What a colourful celebration of autumn foliage, the witch hazels are lovely. I think it’s hard to beat the range of multi-coloured cornus for year round interest. One of my new favourites is kesseringii – purple/black stems & fiery tints to its autumn foliage.
Oh that cornus sounds lovely – perhaps I could squeeze one in elsewhere in the shrub border…
Love that last pic, a perfect tapestry. Isn’t it odd how plants respond differently to locations and/or soil. Hamamelis ‘Diane’ here is scarlet red!
Thanks Jessica – and oops! I realused when I read your comment that the third witch hazel in the photo is in fact Jelena and Diane was behind me when I took it! Don’t think my Diane has colored up though…
What fabulous colour from the witch hazels. Your favourite foliage area is a most striking combination Cathy.
Thanks Anna – good to see these areas from the house too
Oh Cathy, another gorgeous Persicaria! That last photo with the dark Carex in the foreground is lovely!
Thanks Cathy – the dark ‘grass’ is the ophiopoganum and the carex is the line green one though! I didn’t know anything about persicarias when I bought PP and it was known as Tovara PP
Lovely post, I like the sweet dovecote, we have often talked of having doves in the garden but have never got round to it! I’ve made a note of the Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’ as it would make a wonderful addition to a new border we’re creating, is yours in full sun and has it needed any staking? I have got the Persicaria ‘Painters Palette’ and moved it from a crowded bed this spring and it has since doubled in size! I also lost the label with its name and was glad when I saw it in your garden! Thankyou
My Painter’s Palette has also responded to a move from where it languished unloved! The Golfer wanted to build a full size dovecote but we did not intend to keep doves and it would have been completely out of proportion – this is just decorative and links visually with the 2 new obelisks further down the border. JA just needs sone gentle restraint but it doesn’t flop as much as some
Your witch hazels are an amazing pop of colour! The weather this year has been just right for the changing colours of autumn. My H. Arnold Promise has never had seed cases like yours, they are wonderful!
Thanks Pauline – my witch hazels generally have had perhaps 2 or 3 seed cases but I have never seen as many as this!
Oh, I like your dovecote and a tree house? I missed that. You are right Witch Hazels vary enormously in their autumn colour and what a bonus when they burst into flames. I am always disappointed with amelanchier in autumn, yes it has a good colour but the leaves don’t last long.
Oh, the treehouse has been sitting in one of the apple trees for about 12 or so years but has just been refurbished – too small even for me (although a large fairy might live there I suppose), but it was just a token tree house anyway. As is the dovecot, which even a skinny dove would struggle to squeeze into – this has only just been completed and erected and links in aesthetically (I think) with the new obelisks. I shall be adding a clematis to it next year probably.When I post for EOMV you should be able to see the 3 altogether