Autumn Flowers

It's October, but gardens are still alive and thriving with so many flowers.

I've been pleasantly surprised with the lovely hazy sunshine and mild weather we've been having and it's been lovely to still be enjoying the late summer flowers in the garden - it almost looks like it is still summer if it wasn't for the golden and red leaves turning the trees into that glorious autumnal colour.

There are still roses flowering and giving off their beautiful scents in the October breeze. I always enjoy seeing the verbenas swaying - even when they've passed their best of flowering, they always seem to stand tall at this time of year and add so much colour and depth to the borders.

I love seeing the hydrangeas, they are a strong and colourful plant during July and August and in autumn their flowers still look gorgeous as their colours fade and their lacy caps become tinged with shades of gold and creams. Again, they contribute so much to the beauty of the garden in autumn.

We also have so many salvias and wallflowers too, still bursting full of flowers - they've been flowering since early spring and are still going strong as we head towards the winter months. Cotoneasters full of red berries tipple over walls and rocks and of course the apple tree is laden with apples ready for picking and cooking. Bright pink sedums are always a favourite of mine at this time too - they never fail to liven up dull corners and spots around the borders.

My favourite of all at this time of year has to be the michaelmas daisy, as their delicate purple and yellow heads rise high towards to the late warm sunshine. One of our back garden borders has burst back into full bloom and they're looking stunning.

And, of course, there's still the last of those summer bedding plants - geraniums and begonias especially, squeezing the best of the milder weather before the frosts begin. It's soon going to be time to tidy up and redo the pots and baskets with winter bedding.

Roses at Wrest Park

Autumn rose

Hot July

A little sunny and hot weather and the bright flaming colours of the July plants start coming into their best. The reds of the perlargonium pots, the oranges of the crocosias and vivid pink shades of the begonias are tempered and softened by the gentle, soft hues of the lavenders, hydrangeas and anenomes, which are also springing into bloom. 

Honeysuckle and climbing roses are racing up the walls and trellises in full flower now and giving off heady scents in the hot sunshine and balmy nights. The archway around the front door is swathed in honeysuckle and I keep finding myself stopping and loitering for a few minutes under the front porch, as I breathe in the beautiful perfume that lingers. The rose and honeysuckle tend to flower on and on all summer and will often continue through into December if the weather remains mild. 

This is always a magnificent time in the garden, the whole garden a jumble of spectacular colour; the whole garden buzzing with bees and butterflies amongst the froth of flowers. 

Budapest

I recently visited Budapest and besides exploring this city and all its stunning sights, views, architecture and the Danube River, I also kept an eye open for plants and flowers like I always do. We visited in late September, the weather and temperature echoed very similar to ours here in England. We enjoyed beautiful warm sunny days with perfect temperatures for walking and exploring and then cooler nights as the sun descended over the Danube River.

There were beautiful arrays of flowers flanking the riverside, similar again to our own plants here at this time of year - autumnal mixes of bright orange marigolds and deep red begonias, rose beds and daphnes surrounding the parliament buildings that make the iconic view on the edge of the river. 

The trees hadn't quite turned in readiness for autumn, but looked stunning against the frame of light stone architecture and along the tree lined avenues. Banks of ornamental grasses formed a soft edge to the spectacular buildings in their background - it was difficult to distinguish which was more breathtaking the architecture standing grand and tall or the swathes of frothy grasses that swayed in the breeze before them. 

One of my favourite places was Maragaret Island and its beautiful parkland and gardens. Set in the middle of the Danube River and accessed across the Margaret Bridge. The first thing we were drawn to was the waterfall garden. We sat and quietly watched the waterfall for a while and when we decided to make a move and explore further, suddenly we were taken by surprise - loud music started and the waterfalls started dancing. We sat back down smiling - warm sunshine, beautiful sights, then happy music and dancing waterfalls like a firework display. What more could you want to bring a little fun and happiness to the day?

Firey red hot poker plants surrounded the waterfalls adding even more brightness to the scene and the water cascades reaching high to the backdrop of the trees. 

Then more fun and laughter. How do you explore around this tranquil, green oasis when you've already been wandering and exploring for miles while you've been heading towards it without wearing yourself out? We were hoping for a romantic and peaceful horse and carriage ride - that's what the guide book had informed us. But no, not a horse and carriage in sight, so we plumped for a bicycle carriage made for two - something of a cross between a tandem and a pedallo. That turned out to be great fun as we pedalled and steered our way through the pathways and explored the beautiful gardens, woodlands and monuments. Aching legs later were well worth it for all the light hearted fun and happiness. 

The gardens still refelected summer time with salvias, verbenas and typical late August plants, but there were touches of autumnal colours, golds, browns and oranges of rubekias, marigolds and ornamental grasses. All very beautiful. 

Each evening, the sun would set above the river, the pink and purple hues accentuating and silhouetting the hills of Buda in contrast to the flat ground of Pest. Then the whole city would light up as dusk fell - more breathtaking views in every direction, especially from the superbly lit Chain Bridge. The bridge links the two sides of the city - Buda and Pest - and offers views stretching in all directions across the river and beyond to the Hungarian Parliament Buildings, the Royal Palaces, basilicas and churches. Simply stunning.