The Big Chill and Autumn Color’s Last Stand
Every year there is a sort of tipping point reached some time in November that signals the coming end of fall and beginning of winter. Yesterday seems to have been one of those days. Following a week of very mild weather, almost shirtsleeve weather, a biting cold arrived riding in on strong winds. Suddenly the night was cold enough to make an icy cap on the water in the bird baths.
The cold shriveled my last blooming annual, Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’, which had kept blooming gamely even as the calendar wore on. Nevertheless, the last of the fall colors strive to hang on, unwilling to go softly into that good night. Judy and I both took some of these pictures (mine are the fuzzy ones). Unfortunately, her good camera, a Nikon, isn’t working right now.
Incredibly, there are still a few flowers blooming. The trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is having a last flush of flowers.
And my white roses, ‘Darlow’s Enigma’, ‘Cassie’, even ‘Sallie Holmes’, continue to have a few flowers.
There are also rose hips, though these are quickly eaten by the birds once ripe.
The above-mentioned roses still have green foliage, but I was pleased to see that the wild pink rose Rosa setigera has lovely fall color. I’m growing R. setigera, also called prairie rose or Illinois rose, against a south-facing white brick wall, where it is gradually entangling itself with the trumpet flower. This is its second year.
Most of the leaves have fallen, but there are a few that still stubbornly refuse to drop. The Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) still has many of its golden yellow leaves.
My native Viburnums are just now beginning to concede that the seasons are changing. V. prunifolium, blackhaw Viburnum, is turning a deep red. V. trilobum (cranberrybush Viburnum) is turning a multitude of colors, from burgundy to bright yellow.
And my young Cornus florida (flowering dogwood), planted just this spring, is the last of my dogwoods to keep its foliage.
Carry on as long as you can, you last few holdouts of autumn. As white and brown gradually covers the land, I will think of you.
gardeninacity 
Love the colors that you are still getting…beautiful.
We are about a month ahead of you, and now snow.
Jen
There was a dusting of snow on the ground this morning.
I know–I couldn’t believe what a glorious day Saturday was! And then today…it’s winter! Brrrr. Several blooms were hanging on here, too. Afraid to look today. Not looking forward to the months of white, brown, and gray.
That’s what holidays and garden catalogues are for, to help us survive the winters.
Still lovely photos Jason, by the time summer is half way through here, I wish it was winter.
Your summers must be pretty torrid then. I never wish for winter, though I do sometimes wish for autumn.
Gorgeous colours and beautiful photos! Although it goes cold and things change I feel we are lucky to experience the changing seasons. Each one brings something interesting to our gardens 🙂
Much as I grumble about winter, I do agree with you. If only we could make winter shorter and spring longer …
Now that would be good!!
I’m so enjoying the autumn colours from everyone’s garden. That rose has a very special colour, like caramel. Christina
Yes, I liked that coloring as well.
Flowers at this time of year are doubly precious, we have to make the most of them. Autumn colours make up for the lack of flowers, so your garden is very colourful still, but for how much longer though, will you be covered in snow all winter?
We’ve had odd winters lately, either massive amounts of snow or very little, so it’s hard to know what to expect.
Looking at sticks here.
I’ll be there too in a few weeks.
So many lovely examples of fall color in your garden, Jason. My clethra has not been happy in my garden at all; now I know what gorgeous fall foliage it should have. Nice to see your roses blooming as well.
The weather has changed here, too; I haven’t been out to check this morning, but I would be surprised to see anything blooming at all on this frosty morning.
Actually, my clethra aren’t that happy either – they didn’t bloom at all this year. I’m thinking the soil is not acidic enough. I may actually get rid of them.
Lots of rich autumn colours from the last flowers and foliage – definitely something to hold onto in the monochrome months ahead.
Indeed.
Definitely. I’ve been thinking I need more evergreens but can’t figure out what I would plant or where.
I don’t envy you your cold and snowy winters! Lots of great color still in your garden!
Spoken like a true Alaskan expatriate!
Beautiful colours indeed! The picture of Darlow’s enigma is very pretty and I like a lot the r. Setigera fall colours!
I think there’s a lot to be said for wild roses in the garden!
oh even the leaves of your roses get so autumny, and beautiful too!
I love rose hips, but you’re so right–they disappear quickly, with the birds enjoying them before I can steal a few for rose hip tea. Your garden is lovely, rich with colors and textures. Normally, I curse our overly shady garden, but in autumn our forest turns into a showcase, and I remember to be grateful for all of the lovely trees. Happy GBBD to you!
And to you as well. Early spring is also a wonderful time in the shady garden with all the wildflowers. I’ve come to appreciate the dappled shade of our back yard, you can feel how it’s cooler there as you walk into it.
Color stood down long ago in my garden, but I loved looking at yours.
Glad you liked it.
How nice to have a few real flowers in November! We are at nearly the same point as you are here in PA. I had to go out a buy a few more hellebores today just to keep my spirits up. 🙂
Your images show what vibrancy remains in the fall garden, including the leaf color in two of my favorites – clethra and viburnum.
The viburnum are really wonderful, aren’t they. Oddly, all the berries on the cranberrybush viburnum were eaten early in the season, which is unusual.
I love the ostrich ferns so fresh and vibrant and so architectural. It all looks lovely and thank you for leaving a comment on my blog so I found yours
You’re welcome! I’ve enjoyed your blog very much.
Beautiful autumn colours, and it is lovely to still have some blooms as well.
Even today a few of the little roses are blooming. I admire their tenacity, and have to wonder how long they will go.