Gone are the vibrant shades of summer and the landscape is now all aglow with russets and golds....well almost! Outside our front door we have this glorious little rowan tree whose delicate branches are weighed down by these gorgeous berries resembling shiny pink pearls.
It has been wearing its sugary pink coat for many weeks now and from a distance you could easily believe it was covered in spring blossom. The tree is a sorbus hupehensis (isn't that an ugly name for such a pretty tree!)
Greedy birds stripped all the bright red berries from our other rowans several weeks ago but this little sweetheart doesn't attract our feathered friends and so has been ignored. She will hang onto her fruit for several more weeks.
Pink is an unusual but welcome shade amongst so many glowing autumn tints. Will I be able to find any more pinks around the garden I wonder? Let's go for a trudge across the lawn and find out.
With its pink buds and waxy white flowers this viburnum is just coming into bloom and will fill the courtyard with its sweet perfume throughout the winter.
Not quite the last rose of summer, this little beauty has been slowed in it's growth by the shorter days and cooler nights. Its lovely pink stems are the same shade as the buds.
The little pink heart shaped leaves on the Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum) have nearly all fallen ...
... but the leaves on the red stemmed dogwood (cornus) are hanging on. Just one strong breeze however and they will be sent fluttering to the ground. Happily we'll be left with the bright red stems which always give a 'zing' to Christmas greenery arrangements.
This poor lonely soul is a pink water lily that has been left behind by its friends who bloomed many weeks ago.
Above are the leaves of the pink flowered version of Queen Anne's lace. It's a newcomer to our garden and I'm wondering if all the leaves turn this fabulous shade of pink in autumn or just one or two? Does anyone know?
Good old faithful hydrangeas, where would we be without them? I mustn't call these pink beauties the flowers because officially they are the bracts, but who cares. Their colour goes on and on for weeks and the papery flower heads (sorry bracts) can be dried for indoor displays. Real value for money!
Sadly it hasn't been a good year for roses and our heavy headed 'David Austins' always complain bitterly about the rain we get. They quickly droop and usually snap off. This lovely lady is covered in delicate dew drops and as we have no rain forecast this week I should be able to enjoy her for a while longer.
Thank you for joining me in my search for autumn pinks.
Until next time
Eli.
Your garden is beautiful...I love ALL the pinks!
We have all your rain here this week! ☺
Posted by: Martha | 16 October 2009 at 11:30 AM
Very pretty flowers, Autumn Pink is so different from summer pink
Posted by: Julie | 16 October 2009 at 01:08 PM
I would love one of those Rowan trees. I did not know they existed and I am a keen gardener. Think I will track one down for my front garden which is do a makeover next year. You learn something new every single day. Thankyou.
Posted by: Joy | 16 October 2009 at 02:30 PM
Happy Friday! LOVED seeing the pink & frankly have never thought of pink & autumn in the same sentence. Thanks for opening my eyes & making me stop & "smell the roses". Gorgeous garden as always!
Posted by: nancy anderson | 16 October 2009 at 04:02 PM
Dear Eli,
What a refreshing color change from the "normal" autumn hues! I'm glad your roses are still blooming, they're so beautiful. Ours gave up after being frozen several times.
The rowan tree is stunning!
Love,
Marqueta
Posted by: Marqueta | 17 October 2009 at 01:45 AM
Dear Eli,
Your garden is gorgeous! Love all the pretty pinks. :O)
Blessings,
Selia
Posted by: Selia Renzetti | 30 October 2009 at 03:23 PM
Dear Eli,
I love your beautiful autumnal pinks. Pink is a gorgeous color any time of year! Oh, how I would love to have all those gorgeous trees and flowers in my garden!!! You have such a beautiful garden, Eli. I especially love the roses!!!! Oh, they do get large there in England don't they? The hydrangeas are beautiful. I agree, they are a real value for the money. The pink berries and leaves are gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing!
Love, Paula
Posted by: Paula | 01 November 2009 at 08:29 PM