Autumn: the first signs
Not wanting to miss out on the first signs of autumn colour, I ventured out of my office for a stroll round Circular Drive today to see what I could see.
These are early days with most trees showing little or no sign of autumn.
Those species that are turning tend to be natural early colourers or those that haven’t enjoyed the weather conditions this year and have decided to ‘pack up and leave early’.
Spindles are always early to colour and this year is no exception.
Many of the winged spindles (Euonymus alatus) are already looking a bit sparse and bedraggled, displaying a distinct lack of colour sense with a combination of orange fruit and bright crimson leaves.
Skulking in the shade close to the northern end of Sir Georges Walk and overlooked by most passers-by lives the arboretum’s best example of Disanthus cercidifolius.
I’m always amazed that nobody has come up with a common name for such a lovely shrub. I was drawn by the colour of its Judas tree-like leaves (hence the name), already turning deep wine-red. If you look hard you can also see the small spidery flowers.
One of the surprises on my walk was to see the epaulette tree (Pterostyrax hispida) showing both yellow leaves and the dried remains of its summer flowers – perhaps even more epaulette-like than ever.
And for rarity of the day, Sinowilsonia henryi takes a bit of beating. Not usually considered an autumn stunner, this plant was backlit by the low afternoon sun and made me think again about what I have always thought to be a slightly dull species.
I will be taking regular strolls through the arboretum during the autumn season and will report back on the state of play: the stars and the also-rans, the slow burners and those that come and go in a flash.
Useful links
Keep an eye on autumn colour at Westonbirt on our Facebook page
