From My Window – Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society

The small patio is shielded from the sun, in a south facing garden, by an Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’. The tree caught my eye while on a trip to Kent. Must have one of those I thought. The sapling was bought and is now well mature. Some of the limbs show signs of viral attack, but it soldiers on.

Early to leaf, in February, the leaves are green and red. It produces sap, which attracts the aphids. With the aphids, the small birds make regular visits to eat the goodies. The birds include Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Robin and Goldfinches. The Dunnocks also pay a visit, foraging in the growth below, together with a variety of bees including the distinctive yellow faced variety. Soon after, it will produce a vast amount of blossom, and after that very small sycamore-like seeds. In time and onto autumn, the leaves go from yellow to orange and then fall, covering all the surrounding ground.

Sometime ago, Anna wrote an entry for CABAHS on what she could see from her kitchen window and the pleasure this gave her. At various times of year, most of us can look out of a window and see something to delight – it may not even be in our own garden! My neighbour grows fabulous roses and I can see these from an upstairs window.

This year I have planted Thunbergia Alata (Black-eyed-Susan) and Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (Purple Bells) in containers to clamber up tripods made of canes strung together.

Tripod covered in Thunbergia Alata (Black-eyed-Susan) and Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (Purple Bells)

In this container, the Thunbergia is a lovely dark orange, while in other pots it is the usual paler colour. Here, the two climbers have made friends with the velvety deep pink Salvia Curviflora. Seen from my kitchen, this combination has been a joy throughout this dismal summer.

Tag: From My Window

The View from my Window

September – from my window