Blue skies, sunshine and a long hour at Kew Gardens to spy some autumnal goings on with a collection of amazing trees. I didn’t travel far from the Palm House and I know there would be much, much more to see if I had to time to explore further – I really wanted to see the Gingkos for example – but I can’t complain as you can see…
Liquidambers, often quite substantial garden trees, mostly conical in habit with maple-ish leaves, always give some of the very best Autumn fireworks, with bonfire colours like these. I’m just a little late for the display at Kew Gardens, the trees are near bare, but the effect is still quite striking.
More liquidamber below (L. styraciflua).
(Below) The tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, with these distinctive leaves – this one a sapling, was also sporting some end-of-season finery.
Parrotia persica (above) and witch hazel, Hamamelis, (below) both part of the Mediterranean landscape. I’ve photographed the witch hazels in flower – not long now, really, but they have much to recommend them with these technicolour traffic-light-colours just now.
This is one of my favourite trees at Kew, by the Victoria Gate entrance – Cotinus obovatus – and I had just about got there in time, as there has been a lot of leaf drop. Back lit in the afternoon sun, it is an amazing sight.
One of the avenues leading off from the Palm House, beyond the Rose Garden. On the perimeter of the Rose Garden too is the Cherry collection –
Just peaking over the topiary here, the reds and russets of the ornamental cherries. Coming from the Mediterranean Garden, the view opens up to take in the Palm House.
Prunus Matsumae Hanagurama (above) and Prunus Taoyoma Zakura (below)
Prunus Tai Haku (below)
We appreciate the ornamental cherries for their dazzling spring blossom – and I have photographed and blogged about these very specimens year upon year. I’ll appreciate these trees even more having taken a closer look at their subtle autumn colouring, quilted leaves and fine serrated margins.
https://teddingtongardener.com/2014/04/04/hanami-my-very-own-cherry-blossom-festival-in-kew-gardens/
Another look at the Cotinus obovatus (below) – can’t resist –
Heading back to the Victoria Gate and Plaza, by the lake, newly planted bedding in the parterre and passing by the War Memorial…
A link here to Kew and more autumnal highlights –
http://www.kew.org/autumn-kew-gardens
Finally, a look at a nearby house, opposite the garden I look after in Kew actually, where the Virginia Creeper seems to be winning….
The Teddington Gardener 