Monty Don has a ‘Jewel Garden’ (lucky him) where rich and vibrant flowering plants and shrubs are grown. Late summer and early autumn is the season for a blast of vibrancy in the garden and I have been working at this over the last year to increase flowering times and add colour. Last week we saw the lovely golden yellow Rudbeckia take centre stage. This week we’ll check out more of these autumn gems.
- Cosmos. Still flowering on in the containers, though coming to an end now. Anyway, I need to turf them out soon to plant my tulip bulbs when they arrive.
- Lobelia ‘ Hadspen Purple‘, Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’ and the ‘Asda’ special are still making a splash of colour in the bee and butterfly bed.
L. ‘Hadspen Purple’ L. cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’
Lobelia - Helenium ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and ‘Moerheim Beauty’. Both still young plants. I hope they bulk out a bit over time.
H. ‘Moerheim Beauty’
H. ‘Ruby Tuesday’ H. ‘Ruby Tuesday’ - Tropaeolum majus ‘Black Velvet’ (Nasturtium) a lovely rich red, almost-black nasturtium. And the ubiquitous Orange self-seeded ones. These spread around in the raised bed area, in cracks in the paving and in between the slate flooring! But they are easily pulled out.
Nasturtium ‘Black Velvet’ - Penstemon ‘Garnet’ continues to delight.
- Cosmos atrosanguineus ‘Chocolate’ is a gorgeous dark, Bourneville coloured cosmos with a chocolate / vanilla fragrance. And yes, my photo does make it appear much redder. This winter I am wondering whether or not dig it up and put it in a pot and bring inside as it took such a long time to re-appear this year I thought it was dead. And it was quite thickly mulched. Or use fleece? Any suggestions?
I was amused to see this sign in the Trelissick plant area: I think all gardeners will appreciate the sentiment 😀
As always, if you want a peek over other people’s garden walls then please pop over to our host, the lovely Jon, AKA ‘The Propagator’ where you find links to many more wonderful garden enthusiasts from all over the world.
See here for the participant’s guide.
Cornwall in Colours 
The Heleniums are beautiful. I think you have just named the rogue Nasturtium I have got in the garden.
You’ve done a great job with your late summer colour!
I hope you’ll show more of your garden revamp when you get the time.
Gorgeous