Well autumn has certainly arrived this week after some pretty good September weather the wind and rain have returned. Just as I was about to commence bulb planting! Fortunately it was dry and sunny on Wednesday so I managed to get some done then. More bulbs arrived yesterday (that I had forgotten ordering) so hope there are some sunny days ahead! Not today though.
(1) Fuchsia no name – I have several hardy fuchsias in containers, some at the front courtyard and the rest on the Zen Patio, but this one is in the garden. Probably not the best spot as it gets full sun and as a consequence (I believe) all the leaves go horribly yellow and fall off in the summer, but since August’s rather cool and wet weather it has been looking good again. In fact I have noticed lots of fuchsia hedges simply dripping with these dainty flowers in the Cornish lanes in September.
It’s planted just in front of the patio, sharing space with the coral Penstemon, so not a great colour combo!
(2) Talking about the courtyard, let’s have a look at what is flowering on the steps at the moment. Two SunPatiens (a white and a blush pink) which have been flowering since mid-May. SunPatiens are stronger and far more robust than standard impatiens and withstand wind, rain, humidity, scorching heat and cool shade. Accompanying them are some cheap zonal pelargoniums from Tesco, the delicate white Hawkshead fuchsia as well as ferns and the golden Hakonechloa macra Aureola / Japanese forest grass. Weirdly one fern looks to have died and my white mop-head Hydrangea is looking terrible! I might actually cut this right back to base next spring and I suspect it really needs some new compost.
(3) Moving to the Cornish hedge for the only thing that is flowering now – a Persicaria which I think is Persicaria affinis ‘Donald Lowndes’. I have a deeper red one in the Bee and Butterfly garden. They are both low-growing types which make excellent ground cover.
(4) In at number four is this sunflower. I tried growing them from seed this year, but once planted out into the garden as quite spindly plants I thought they had all been eaten. I was surprised to see this in the raised bed and wonder if it actually will manage to flower! I might be tempted to have another go next year.
(5) Most of the Heucheras are still looking good, though I had to rescue a couple that were planted in this dappled shade bed as they were actually being eaten! By snails I think. This is on the edge though and seems to have faired better, producing yet another flush off the dainty flowers. This Heucheralla ‘Buttered Rum’ (Foamy Bells)is decidedly looking much greener now though.
(6) Around the large flat rock in my garden which was the motivation behind creating this as a gravel garden are my new grasses and Gaura. Difficult to photograph they do look lovely swaying in the breeze. I’m debating as to whether or not I leave the Aeonium outdoors this winter.
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 
Lovely gallery. I rather like these first days of Autumn.
I like autumn when it is dry and sunny, these wet days are miserable.
I see you have a late sunflower too – garden is still looking good.
I went out today between the showers and found it has actually opened. No photo as yet though!
🙂
Very pretty, as always. I love fuschias but only tried them once and they all keeled over. For precisely the reasons you said I suspect. They were too hot and too dry. Perhaps I should try again.
The only Persicaria I know here is a really invasive ground cover, and yet I see lovely ones on NH posts. Yours has a very pretty flower. I love the names of the Heucheras; like a walk in (or out, seeing they’re in the garden) pantry. I admire your fuchsias and look upon them with envy. They are plants I could grow in Sydney, but very difficult here without a very sheltered spot.
Sheltered spots are like hens teeth in my garden! 😂
Mine too!
Wonderful photos Jude. I particularly like that Heucherella. I will have to look that one up.
It’s a beauty in spring, golden and coppery.
Lots of interest still, Jude, and lovely photos. Have you tried any of the dwarf sunflowers, which would do well in a pot?
I’m not sure what height these were supposed to be, free packet, but I will check. Pots sound good.
I grew Solar Flash this year and they continued flowering all season , albeit not in a pot. They grow to about 2ft
How’s your Cornish wall coming on Jude? That persicaria is a lovely thing indeed. I’m also admiring your aeonium. Mine has gone a bit spindly whereas your have nice strong stalks.
I leave the Cornish hedge over winter, though I have cleared away a lot of dead foliage. My Aeonium need cutting again, some are far too spindly, but I need to buy some cactus compost or sand first to propagate them.
I see your garden is still up and beautiful – mine is raining away now…into black, sorry spots. Aeonium I have tried twice, but they will not last – any tips what might be wrong? I have them mostly indoors though, light and sunny.
I have my Aeoniums outside during the summer in full sun. I think the key is not to overwater.
Gardeners World has this information:
“Grow aeoniums in pots in a sunny position outside, or in a bright spot indoors. Aeoniums store water in their leaves and stems and need very little watering. In spring and autumn, water the plant thoroughly, then allow the compost to dry out before watering again – this mimics downpours in their natural habitats. Water more sparingly in summer and winter. Bring plants indoors in autumn to protect them from frost. “
Might have been too much water…but I don’t think so. Next time I try they will sit outdoors.
Your Persicaria is far better behaved than the one in my six. The pots on the steps are looking really great, very colourful.