It’s the first fleurday of November but I’ve luckily found some bloomers that seem to have not noticed that we’re edging toward winter!

These fairy roses are still very pretty in pink …

… while these tiny beach sunflowers are retaining their bright, happy faces.

Here’s a last look at these wonderful hydrangeas, who after providing us with beautiful colour variations since June are now deservedly fading into their winter rest.

And finally, a matador rose. They usually last well into December, providing pops of welcome colour on grey, rainy days.

Happy Friday.

Although the flowers are of course dwindling now I am still discovering a few here and there.

The matador roses are really hardy and in some protected corners I see them blooming even into December.

The crane’s bill flowers are almost all gone now, though.

Asters are quite tolerant and I may also find some of them well into November or December.

Chrysanthemums are the stars of course and will tolerate a light frost; I’ve even seen them survive a freezing rain. The fact is, however, that time is running out for our garden lovelies. It’s time to enjoy the last of them!

Happy Friday.

There are so many beautiful colours at this time of year, and not just the gorgeous leaves.

I’ve been watching these bigleaf hydrangeas since May and have seen their glorious transformations throughout late spring, summer and autumn. They’re fading now, but what a beautiful gift they have been!

And then there are the vanilla fraise (strawberry vanilla) hydrangeas. Not nearly as dramatic as the bigleaf hydrangeas, but their beautiful metamorphosis from white to pink is equally glorious. The picture below from early September shows how they have changed.

Happy Saturday.