Autumnal Flowers

It's autumn and there's still plenty of colourful plants in the garden. The last of the summer bedding plants are still going strong and there's still fruit ripening on the apple trees and tomato plants. Salvias give displays of white and pink along the edge of the borders and the berries on the weeping cotoneaster tree are vibrant. 

Sedum plants have begun to bloom adding clusters of gentle and deep pinks and the verbenas are still happily reaching out to the sunshine we've had recently. Hydrangeas are another of my favourites, they can always be relied upon for that late summer and autumn colour. We've have different colours and varieties for interest in the front garden. 

Amongst the hydrangeas there's a scattering of other perennials still adding colour - catmint, Johnson's blue, anemones, late roses, geums and daphne. Then there are the autumn brights - the yellows of the potentillas and rudbekias. 

It's possibly one of the most beautiful times in the garden before autumn slips into winter and the days draw in. 

Bournemouth Upper, Central and Lower Gardens

The gardens at Bournemouth run from the pier to the border of Poole, they are about 3km long and form part of the Bourne Valley Greenway. They are grade 2 listed by English Heritage. There are many year round activities in the garden including mini golf, art exhibitions and the Bournemouth Eye - a tethered balloon. 

There are ornamental ponds and streams, rockeries, pergolas and many beautiful flower displays. It was mid September when we visited, but the garden was still full of interesting and vibrant colour. 

Banks of golden rod flanked the stream and there were gorgeous displays of pink lilies in full bloom. Large arrays of pale and deep pink cosmos brightened up and filled the borders and beds and two of my late summer and autumn favourites - rudbeckia and anemones - made fabulous displays.

Walking from the upper gardens through to the lower gardens and then down to the pier and promenade made for a very pleasant stroll. I've included a picture of the lovely Cath Kidsten beach huts I came across on the promenade - well they did look cute and one is covered in flowers!