If the current trend of cold nights and sunny days continues then we're in for some spectacular autumn colour here at Harlow Carr. Autumn is very much in evidence already this week with misty mornings and heavy dews.
Some of my favourite sights today include the beautiful blue Aster x frikartii ‘Monch' AGM to be found at its peak on the Rose Revolution borders. The climber Rhodochiton atrosanguineus AGM is also stunning and can be seen in the Gardens Through Time and scrambling over the giant teapot by Betty's Kiosk. On the Main Borders the architectural spires of bugbane (Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) ‘Brunette' AGM) are filling the air with wafts of sweet scent.
The long awaited arrival of butterflies in the garden has seen numbers on the increase this week but still populations seem very low compared to other years. Red admirals appear to be the most abundant but Commas and Peacocks are also around. The second brood of Moorhen chicks from the lily pond have been busy feeding on turf invertebrates with their mother.
The expansion of the mini-meadow area is at the plug planting and seed sowing stage and plans are afoot for new seating. With the fine weather of late seed has been ripening well and has been collected from all over the garden in readiness for next years designs.
Andrew Chapman