After a slightly misty start on the morning of Saturday 8th November, the light crystallised, the skies cleared, and we were treated to a most beautiful sunlit day. Needless to say, and especially with a light coating of dew, the grasses sparkled and the whole garden seemed to celebrate in the warm sunshine. All images were taken between 7.30 -9.30 am.
The warm brown tones of miscanthus, panicum and pennisetum all basking in the warm morning sunshine. Its not just the grasses that welcome the morning sunshine. The shaggy outline of Acacia pravissima looking as effective now as when covered with its early spring masses of tiny pom pom like yellow flowers.The first rays of sunlight burst through the background trees to highlight the aptly named Pennisetum Black Arrow. A rather new selection from Knoll Gardens growing in the Decennium border.Not far away the seductively dark flowers of another Knoll Gardens selection, Pennisetum Dark Desire, work beautifully with the yellow orange fall colour of the foliage. The taller background, and equally effective, warm autumnal foliage belongs to Panicum Sea Mist.Still retaining its summer green foliage the arching flowers of Pennisetum Fairy Tails are as distinctive as they are effective. The tall silvery nodding flowers in the background belong to Miscanthus Rosi.The first shafts of morning sunshine permeating the early mist to alight on the silvery blue foliage of Poa labillardierei in the Dry Meadow.Looking across the Dry Meadow some of the gardens woody plants offering a patchwork of autumnal colour, shape and texture. As the sunshine gradually creeps across the Dry Meadow it begins to reach the honey brown stems of Molinia Poul Petersen growing in the second Rain Garden swale. A patchwork quilt of evergreen foliage is provided by plants such as carex, luzula, ferns and strawberry in the first swale of the Rain Garden. A warm autumnal view looking across the Spring Meadow towards the Forum.Acer Shindeshojo offers warm autumnal foliage and equally striking shrimp pink coloured new leaves each spring.As the first rays of sunlight reach the Dragon Garden, Pennisetum Black Arrow lights up in a glorious, if transient, display of light and beauty!As the sunshine moves further around the Dragon Garden the same group of Pennisetum Black Arrow take on an entirely different look and feel. Making an effective contrast with the background warm brown foliage of Miscanthus Cindy (left) Panicum Sea Mist (right).As the sun continues to move around the Dragon Garden a symphony of shape, texture and colour, in the form of myriad shades of browns and beiges from the gardens various miscanthus, panicum and molinia, is revealed – and enjoyed.Stipa gigantea provides its elegant golden oat like flowers during early summer – and continues to delight in the low sunshine many months later.
