Recently, just before the first full, proper frost I took some photos in the local park of the classic warm golds of autumn. Drifts of rudbeckia capped with their rich, dark brown top-knots looked fabulous in Holywells Park and they’re also very useful in a domestic garden.
Personally, I am not a fan of grasses in my own garden spaces but, I think that in larger grounds, when they are planted in graceful drifts, they work very well. And,
then there are the autumn berries. Another plant that I don’t have in my garden due to its inch long spines is pyracantha. I can understand its value in some situations as a ‘deterrent’ plant whether that is to deter persistent, destructive wildlife or feared burglars. If you need the long spines you also get the bonus of clusters of vibrant, orange or red berries. These berries of pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ fairly zing. Quite inspirational.
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Agnes Ashe 
I’m a pyracantha fan but you are right. They need their space. The berries are worth it to me.
I think I was pierced too many times by a neighbours hedge to convert for my garden, but I do love the orange berries and I know that blackbirds love both the red and orange ones.
Yes. To me, pyracantha says: Autumn.
Oh yes! That final shot is me!
😄 Is that the colour combination or are you feeling like a burst of sunshine these days? 😉
The colour combination definitely!!! I’ve been feeling a bit ordinary with bronchitis for the last three weeks. But I cheered myself up with an impulse buy of a brightly coloured silk jacket the other day. It’s reversible. Hot pink on the inside and multi-coloured on the other. I might try to get a photo up. I told Bill it is his Christmas present to me 🙂
Oh dear, I hope you are recovering now.
Hot pink is a great colour for the spring and going into your hot summers!! Lucky you – we are freezing here today.
I’m on the mend, thanks. We are having lovely days at the moment, although the good weather seems a little late this year.
My father and I are moving again. It’s only round the corner this time to his new flat and permanent home. I will be without internet for a few days though – horrors!!!! 😉
Oh gosh – more upheaval, but hopefully for the greater good. At least re-packing might throw up the chance to take a second look at what can be dispensed with. Will you then look for another place with a garden? Or stay with Dad?
We have moved and now in more chaos, Internet just gone live at new place! Loads of catching up to do. Am temporarily with my father, but hopefully will be moving to my own house with small yard in a couple of months’ time. Fingers crossed. I think there is light at the end of this particular tunnel.
At least you are able to provide useful support and I am sure he is happy for it. Who knows what 2018 will hold for you? Hopefully a house you will love and place your own unique stamp on.
Toes crossed as well on that one. It’s going to be a long old haul, evenings and weekends, I could certainly do with being a couple of decades younger!
You’re right. Sometimes parks can do things that domestic gardens can’t. Grasses in this case are one example. But in my old age I have come to appreciate the more formal plantings in public spaces too, though I couldn’t abide them in my own garden. Lovely post!
Thanks. Have you noticed, though, that fewer and fewer councils are spending time and money on traditional, formal schemes. I think it’s perhaps the labour costs of raising large numbers of annual bedding plants in these austerity times.
I suspect a very strong colour inspiration from your natural environment Agnes. A thought about Council spending, over here its the same and its called economic rationalism , too much money on gross executive salaries not enough on the peoples’ environment.
Still the Australian economy is doing miles better than the UK with all the Brexit rubbish.