A Mid-November Garden

Having missed the Bloom Day North date of November 15 on the blog, we are posting a few shots taken on the 17th, to illustrate the lengths to which we go, to find colour at this time of year. The burning bush below stands in striking contrast to the faded foliage of many of its neighbouring shrubs.

The thousands of small red berries on this ornamental crab apple tree will last only until the usual migrating flock of cedar waxwings arrive later in the year. They will spend a few days in late winter feasting on this succulent treasure.

Lacking colour now but bearing the promise of luscious blooms next spring, if the buds are not devoured by the deer, we see a healthy crop of flower buds perched jauntily on these Rhododendron branches.

Members of the Chester Garden Club are reminded of the club's Annual General Meeting on November 21st. In addition to a brief business meeting to deal with the annual reports, members will be entertained and enlightened by guest speaker Syd Dumaresq as he provides stories about some of the oldest houses in English Canada. Refreshments will be served.

Finding Colour in November

Despite it's being my birthday month, I've never felt a particular affinity for November, with its dreary damp and chilly days. Once the leaves fall, we miss the vibrant colours that are on display in October. Nevertheless, during the warm sunny days that have occasionally appeared this month, we did find many colours (in addition to green) in our gardens. The ornamental cabbage below was a straggler donated by a friend who showed up with a bunch of seedlings in September and insisted I give them a home. Given the shortage of growing time, it was a question of "tough love" but the plant responded with glowing colour if not enormous size.

The holly bushes under a kitchen window produce shiny berries that attract the deer and also friends who raid the bushes for Christmas decorations.

Another treat today was discovering a very young oak seedling that had sprung up beside a hilly bed and which, when the leaves were back lit by the afternoon sun, resembled sections of stained glass.

The branches of cotoneasters are laden with bright red berries this month but they will soon disappear when the deer begin to forage on this bounty. Fortunately, for the time being, the deer and the ducks are busy cleaning up the windfalls from the old apple orchard. 

Members of the Chester Garden Club are reminded of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting, to be held on November 21st. Annual reports will be circulated in advance and all members are encouraged to attend. The evening's guest speaker will be Sydney Dumaresq, who will give an entertaining talk on the subject of old houses.