The First Signs of Autumn…

Recent rainfall has brought welcome relief to the arboretum, refreshing many of the trees and shrubs after a long, warm summer. As we move into September, berries, late flowers and developing cones provide plenty of seasonal interest, while the first hints of autumn colour are beginning to appear.

Fragrant Seven-Son Flower

One particularly striking late-summer highlight is Heptacodium miconioides, commonly known as the Seven-Son Flower of Zhejiang. Having enjoyed the summer heat, it is now producing masses of beautifully scented white flowers as they begin to open.

As well as its attractive flowers, this unusual tree is also admired for the peeling bark on its main stems, making it a plant with interest throughout the seasons. A fine specimen can be found beside the Rest House.

Hydrangeas Continue to Shine

Hydrangeas are still providing plenty of colour throughout the arboretum. A wonderful selection of Hydrangea paniculata cultivars are in flower, displaying shades of white, lime green and soft pink.

Look out too for members of the Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group, with their beautiful blue and purple flowers. Many can be found in the area around Rockery Bridge.

Berries and Brilliant Fruits

September is a wonderful time to admire the developing fruits throughout the arboretum. Spindles (Euonymus) are particularly eye-catching, producing distinctive four-lobed pink capsules which open to reveal bright orange seeds. At the same time, their leaves are beginning to take on rich shades of red, purple and orange.

The Sorbus collection is also putting on an impressive display, with berries in shades of red, pink, orange and white. Look out for Sorbus decora, with its large clusters of bright red berries along Peaches Walk, and Sorbus cashmiriana as you follow the sloping path towards the swamp.

The colourful fruits of the roses are another seasonal highlight. Along the Main Drive, Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’ is producing striking red hips, alongside Rosa scabrosa.

A Bounty of Elderberries

In Seven Leys, ornamental elders are now laden with fruit. Sambucus nigra ‘Haschberg’ is a particularly heavy-cropping cultivar, producing masses of dark purple berries.

Nearby, the less familiar Sambucus ‘Chocolate Marzipan’ is also worth seeking out, with impressive clusters of developing berries adding to the late-season display.

The Scent of Autumn

As you explore the arboretum, you may notice an unmistakable sweet fragrance in the air. The Katsura trees (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) are beginning to emit their distinctive autumn scent, often compared to popcorn, candy floss, burnt sugar or caramel.

There are also early signs of autumn colour appearing throughout the arboretum. One particularly striking example can currently be found in Seven Leys, where an ornamental Vitis growing amongst a conifer is already displaying impressive red hues.

 

September is a month of subtle seasonal change at Batsford, with late flowers, colourful berries and the first signs of autumn combining to create plenty to discover on every walk through the arboretum.