After the unseasonably warm September its a relief to feel a nip in the air – This is such a lovely time of year when the whole feel of life seems to change over-night from the intense bright colours and warmth of late summer to the cooler nights, crisp mornings and earthy tones of Autumn. The urge to tidy up the garden and prepare for winter before the cold sets in hits us in the garden centres too. We are also busy sweeping up leaves, top dressing and trimming the hardy plants and trying to find a minute to enjoy the plants that look their best at this time of year – It’s all about leaf colour, fruit and berries.
Crab Apples are looking especially lovely at the moment. An under rated small garden tree they offer good year round interest in any garden. Different varieties vary in habit from neat and upright to round or pendulous. In the best years branches are laden with small ornamental apples from yellow to dark red in the Autumn – a bit too sour to eat but some varieties make a good jelly. Then in the spring the blossom can really give a garden that ‘wow’ factor.