Late October

A quiet day after the rain and winds with time to reflect on the autumn colour. As you come up the drive Magnolia kobus is overpowering, usually the leaves would be disappearing fast. Then beside the house Davidia involucrata, the handkerchief tree proves it can surprise in autumn too.

At the front of the house the old acer on the daffodil lawn is enjoying its golden phase and the small dissected leaf one in the rock garden is turning orange shades. The Parrotia persica is still multicoloured while the small Rhododendron quinquifolium is just turning. This last plant is truly worth a place in the garden as it delights from the early new leaves, the delicate little flowers in May through to the autumn.