October 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere

[johnw]

Great display Tim. Just collecting seeds of this Gentiana asclepiadea - is the white stripe unusual enough to mention on the packet when I send it to the exchanges?

A resounding yes Anne! Splendid find.

johnw

[Paul T]

John,

Interesting plant.  Silvery green leaves with bright orange berries..... great combination.

[TC]

As the weather looked settled yesterday, we went off to Benmore and Crarae in Argyll to look at  the Autumn colour.  It was almost there but a few more dry still days with a touch of night frost would be perfect.  I was speaking to Peter Baxter, the curator at Benmore, about the Rhod. flowering.  He confirmed what I had experienced locally that it had been a poor year.  Anyway, the colour especially around the pond was rather good.

On to Crarae to be told that half the garden was closed due to storm damage last week.  Many trees had come down at the top of the garden - luckily these were part of the shelter belt and had fulfilled their function.  It was a combination of two events - local freak funneling of the wind and a saturated soil which gave the trees no purchase to resist.  Apart from the damage, it will strain an already tight budget as tree surgeons will have to be called in to clear the area.   

The pictures are in two lots.

[TC]

Part 2

[Paul T]

Great pics, Tom.

[Natalia]

Tom, thank you for the beautiful photo beautiful nature!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wonderful Autumn pix, Tom !   

[Olga Bondareva]

Incredible autumn colors Tom.

[Olga Bondareva]

Still no frosts and my Rhus typhina turned red first time for 10 years.


Acer is yellow as usual.


Colchicum autumnale Album is durty because of permanent rain.


Crocus speciosus Oxonian




Gentiana labeled as farrerii (probably sino-ornata)

[Tim Ingram]

No wonder gardeners become drawn to crocus and gentians - what simple and beautiful images at this time of year Olga.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Couldn't agree more, Tim.  Fantastic shots Olga ! 

[fermi de Sousa]

Tom,
what you've shown of those gardens makes me hope some benefactor will help out with restoration after the storm damage.

Olga,
superb pics as always! The one of the crocus and physalis together is particularly eye-catching,
cheers
fermi

[TC]

Beautiful pictures Olga - taken with an artistic eye.

[Olga Bondareva]

Thank you all!

[Paddy Tobin]

Olga, I haven't seen your photographs for a long while. Lovely to see some again. Paddy