Early November in the Gliffaes Garden

As I went to let my ducks out a couple of mornings ago I saw the first snow on the Brecon Beacons. It seems very early to see a sprinkling of icing on my favourite hills, but it was a beautiful crisp Autumn morning and the trees looked magnificent lit by the November sun against such a pretty backdrop.

It's no wonder most of the leaves have now fallen from the Gliffaes trees. It has been chilly and wet here and we have had a few frosts already. The large Red Maple in the upper field has lost all of its leaves but we are left with a spectacular show of mistletoe. Unfortunately, it won't do this tree much good in the long term, but it is interesting to see it like this.

Red Maple  

Gingko biloba

The garden begins to get rather bare in places now but there is still colour in the brilliant golden, curious shaped leaves of the Gingko biloba (Maidenhair tree). It continues to keep us waiting for the shower of fluttering gold that it seems to promise. 

There is warm colour too in the Cotoneasters, Skimmias and the Harlequin glorybower (Clerodendrum trichotomum) the fruits of which are now fuchsia and blue. I adore this tree and it has such a wonderful name too. My friend Adele, the forager, suggested it would be a good name for a James Bond girl!

Cotoneaster tree

Clerodendrum trichotomum (Harlequin glorybower)

Skimmia japonica

Lastly, I have included a photo of our Lucombe Oak (Quercus x hispanica) which is a hybrid between Turkey Oak and Cork Oak. It is a big, semi-evergreen tree and gives us a beautiful green back drop to the Gingko at this time of year.

Lucombe Oak

End of September, Early October in the Gliffaes Garden

What’s happening in the Gliffaes Garden?
End of September, Early October

 

Quietly, colour changes are happening in the garden as we head for October and autumn.

A patient wait for one of my favourite trees to berry has almost been rewarded; the first few berries are appearing and soon they will turn pink and blue, but for now the Clerodendrum trichotomum is a cloud of bright capsules and some emerging green and pink berries. In the next few weeks, it will be a riot of fuchsia and blue berries.

Rose hips are excellent this year but in particular these huge lantern-like ones, which are abundant on the rose bushes “Rosa moyesii Geranium”.

There is more flaming red colour on the Euonymus alatus (Winged spindle) and the many red cotoneaster berries around the garden. 

Other plants and trees are beginning to change and this Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a beautiful combination of dark reds and greens at the moment.

 The tree that has given me the greatest delight this last few weeks is the Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum). It‘s not a big tree and its heart-shaped leaves have changed to a gorgeous golden and pink colour. As they fall they give off the most delicious caramel fragrance. I walk past it every evening to shut my chickens in and find myself scooping up handfuls of the leaves and waiting a moment while I inhale the wonderful sweet smell.

What’s happening in the Gliffaes Garden? End of August to Mid September

What’s happening in the Gliffaes Garden?
End of August to Mid September

Things really start to get interesting in the garden again about now. I wonder if it’s all the rain that has made the first berries so spectacular this year?

Viburnum rhytidophyllum

The Viburnum rhytidophyllum (leather leaf) has been a sight to behold with bright red, almost shiny berries; and a little further West towards the hotel the huge Berberis (parviflora?) is really beginning to make a show. We are not sure exactly what type it is and are still working on it. I guess it was planted when Gliffaes was built or in the early days of Gliffaes around the turn of the last century.

Berberis (parviflora?)

Clerodendron trichotomum

I have been waiting patiently for one of my favourite trees to flower and more importantly to berry….and it’s nearly there – the Clerodendrum trichotomum first gives us small Jasmine-like flowers, followed by pretty pink capsules, as shown here. Soon, it will be a riot of fuchsia and blue berries – watch this space and I will report as they come out!

Cornus mas

In the same bed is another small tree, the pretty Cornus mas (cornelian cherry). Its “cherries” are just beginning to turn red now and you can see both of these small trees just next to the courtyard.

The Flame creeper (Tropaeolum speciosum) planted by my Grandfather, Sam Brabner, is looking fantastic. It is a very special twining climber, which we are extremely lucky to have. It has bright blue fruits surrounded by deep red calyces and I will be happy to show it to anyone who would like to se it!

Trees to look out for in the Gliffaes Garden

Some of the Flowering Trees this August

The Eucryphia nymansensis "Nymansay"is in full bloom.  It looks fabulous with beautiful white, wild rose-like flowers. It is located on the courtyard.

Meanwhile, the Indian Bean Tree, above the smaller of our car parks, is also flowering. I am glad it has obliged me with some flowers so that I can definitely say it is the Catalpa Bignonioides! 

Pretty cream flowers adorn the enormous leaves.

Many of the Buddleia are still flowering too.

This next tree, which I think is a Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), is magnificent with large white upright flowers and red exserted anthers.

Tree Labelling

At last the tree labelling has begun! James and Christopher (his father) started the first wave of tree labelling at Gliffaes yesterday. I was lucky enough to label the Gingko Biloba, one of my favourite trees. Time for a little celebration, I feel, and may there be many more labels created in the next few weeks.

The Sweet Chestnuts are in full bloom at present giving us a magnificent show.