Autumn flowers – October Begins

Pink rose budI had a bit of a heart attack when I sat down to write this post as I hadn’t realised it’s already October 1st! What really surprised me was the amount of colour still in my garden. The Autumn flowers are not retreating yet. Some of our roses have also been flowering. And best of all we’ve had sunshine.

“I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
–  Nathaniel Hawthorne

Here’s what’s in my garden. Many of the photos I took this morning. Some I took at dusk yesterday evening when little did I know September was closing. Many of my plants began flowering at the start of the Autumn season and are still going strong.Lavender blue Aster

Asterdeep red flowersJapanese anemone

Japanese Anemonegeranium

Geranium pratense (Meadow cranesbill)

In a couple areas of the garden we have these incredibly tall yellow flowers which I believe are a type of Helianthus. Tall yellow flowers HelianthusHelianthus flowersYellow and red colours in wall shrubs

Of course, some of the flowers are fading, dying or just leaving seed pods. It is Autumn after all. And yikes October! So far I’ve only managed to store some Love-in-the- mist seeds.Fading and dying white hydrangeas

Dying white hydrangeaSeed podsSt John's Wort with black berries

St John’s Wort

I also need to pick some more apples from a tree nearby.

This is a native English iris – Iris foetidissima – also known as the ‘Stinking Iris’. I haven’t dared test it but apparently if you crush the leaves it smells like rotten meat. In Autumn its large seed capsules open to reveal orange berries.
Stinking iris

Iris foetidissima otherwise known as Stinking Iris!

Non stop foraging all September and today I’m still foraging. This morning I picked about a half kilo of blackberries from the brambles along one fence in our garden. I’m planning to make some Blackberry vodka! I’ve already made some Wild Plum gin as well as vodka. I keep them in the cupboard below the stairs with the wine so I don’t forget to shake them every day.

“For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.
For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad.”
–   Edwin Way Teale

Brambles on fenceWild plum gin and vodka in jars

I also cut some roses. I’ve loved having flowers from our garden inside and dread buying store bought flowers again. (Although I probably will in the winter!) Pink rose and blackberries on table

I’ve noticed the pheasants are back in full force. They’re probably hiding near us to keep safe as the hunting season for pheasants starts today October 1st.Pheasants in field

Yes, it might be October but the roses are blooming.Orange red roses at duskPink traditional rose and bud

And as Gertrude Stein wrote in her 1913 poem, ” A rose is a rose is a rose.”

17 thoughts on “Autumn flowers – October Begins”

  1. Your aster is looking beautiful! I’m waiting for the buds on mine to open out. Fingers crossed 🙂 I’ll miss Summer flowers from the garden too – picking them as well as looking at them. It’s nice to be able to go outside and pick a bit of what you fancy…

  2. Really love your autumn gathered flowers, I think I love arrangements at this time of year because of the berries that are included and the yellows and russets of fading leaves. Awww those pheasants, hope the make it – I’d be inviting them into the house – come and hide here, I’m very fond of them.

    Ooh and all your books! I love my books too and would like shelves with them all together.

    1. Luckily the pheasants are safe around us (they must know as lots are showing up this week!) We’e rather nuts about books in our home – those are in the kitchen by our dining room table!

  3. Such beauty Kriss, you live in the most amazing area and your outdoor foraging antics are inspiring. You have managed to bring so much from the outside in the use, it’s great to see. Am I going to be able to call you the Pheasant Whisperer soon?
    Thanks for joining in again Kriss – now chuck us a blackberry!

    1. Ah I was the Pheasant whisperer last year when I had ‘Fred’ appear every time I went outside hoping for some bird treats! The great thing about foraging is I can do it right in my garden or incredibly close by x

  4. I keep leaving tis comment but it’s true. I can’t believe how much colour there still in the gardens in the Uk for this time of year. I really miss having cut flowers in the house, even if I do buy them it’s too hot indoors and they don’t live long

  5. Lovely colour, however; vodka and gin! So much more inspiring than a crumble. I love blackberries – I think I should go out and see if I can collect some more. thank you.

  6. So much beautiful colour, I too am dreading buying store flowers, it’s just not the same as growing your own.
    Japanese Anemone have been popping up everywhere it seems, a must buy for next year, they look stunning.
    Love the roses!

  7. I love your garden 🙂

    I’ve always wondered about Stinking Iris, my Mum has one in her garden but we didn’t know what it was…your description of the crushed leaves could explain why Stella is drawn to it. I haven’t noticed a smell from it but call her away as I’m sure the berry flowery bits are probably toxic!

    I’m a rare non-lover of roses but your dark orange one is stunning I must admit 🙂

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