This time of year in so many ways is one of the most colourful times, mostly hot fiery shades from the clearest of yellows through to the deepest of purplish reds, and that’s just the autumn foliage.
This however can vary greatly from year to year depending very much upon the temperatures and the ground conditions, this year at the moment it has been very dry for the last few weeks and so some things are looking a little wilted and not reaching their full colour potential. But many of the reliable favourites are still doing there best. Many of the perennials at this time are also in the fiery colour spectrum, with probably the best of all being the Rudbeckias always very reliable putting on the most fantastic show for many weeks brightening the most dull of autumnal days and harmonising wonderfully with the autumn foliage. 
Others however seem to stand out and clash with there vivid blues, purples and shocking pinks like a last blast of fireworks before the darkness of winter falls upon us.
Mostly these are the Asters but also the wonderful bulbuls Amaryllis belladonna, Colchicum and Nerine bowdenii (the latter of which we don’t have hear unfortunately) in there brightest of shocking pinks displaying their blooms on clear stems before the foliage appears later in the spring these are among my favourites,
with another one being the possibly slightly underrated plant Arum italicum, at this time of year it’s the fruits that catch the eye, bright orange shiny berries clustered at the top of bare stems just as the deep green winter foliage appears from the base which will last well into late spring early summer a great plant for a shady hard to plant spot, and available as a dry bulb at this time.
So come along to Harlow Carr for some late autumn colour. Russ WatkinsHarlow Carr Gardens