Behind the Cosmos - November 2016

This week has seen the first frosty mornings of the season, so the gardens are really starting to shut down for the year. However, there are still a few plants still hanging on.

Starting our pictorial journey in dad's garden, this Cosmos (Cosmea) was looking quite lovely in the early morning autumn light. It has survived frost and high winds this week, and is still producing new buds, although probably not for much longer.

Bi-coloured Pea - November 2016

My favourite Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) had only one bloom remaining, but it still looked as attractive as when it started flowering a few months ago.

Pink Nerine - November 2016

Guernsey Lilies (Nerine bowdenii) don't seem to mind the frosty conditions, and this pink one was thriving in a pot on the patio where the bulbs can bake in the warm summer sunlight.

White Nerine - November 2016

The white ones were also doing very well, although the flowers were a little smaller.

Autumn River - November 2016

The River Lilies (Hesperantha coccinea) still had plenty of flowers on them, but they had been notably affected by the frost, so I don't expect them to be around for much longer.

Behind the Marigold - November 2016

I don't expect the Pot Marigold (Calendula) to last much longer either.

Berry Making Bay - November 2016

However, some of the established plants, shrubs and trees were getting into the season. The Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis) had begun to form berries...

Continuing Catkins - November 2016

...and the catkins had continued to develop on the Twisted Hazel (Corylus avellana contorta) tree.

Apple Harvest - November 2016

A neighbour was also getting a bumper harvest from their Apple Tree (Malus pumila).

Big Shroom - November 2016

Large Mushrooms continued to grow in the lawn, although nothing had been nibbling at this one this week!

Common Wasp and Ivy - November 2016

With the weather turning much colder I hadn't expected to see any insects, but I was lucky enough to find this Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) collecting pollen from the small flowers of a Common Ivy (Hedera helix) plant.

Guzmania - November 2016

Stepping indoors there were a collection of house plants in bloom, including this type of Bromeliad called a Guzmania...

Anthurium - November 2016

...and this Flamingo Flower (Anthurium).

Spent - November 2016

It had been Guy Fawkes night on Saturday, and there had been lots of fireworks going off in celebration. This was one of half a dozen I found as I walked around the garden.

Speaker - November 2016

My furry photo companion was not impressed by the loud noises and spent Saturday evening sat on dad's lap, jumping at every bang made by a fireworks. He was much happier on Sunday, accompanying me on my photo shoot!

Late Arrival - November 2016

Over in my garden, I had a very late arrival! Although my white Nerine's had been in bloom for a couple of weeks, I'd been waiting for them to be joined by the pink ones. This was the week they decided to show themselves.

Blue Scabious - November 2016

I also had a little Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa columbaria) show up on the scene, just in time to witness the coldest night of the season so far.

Penstemon Pinks - November 2016

My Penstemon 'Hewell's Pink' was also flowering, now for the third time this year, but after a very heavy frost during the week, I don't think it will be back until next year.

Bright Cosmos - November 2016

The Cosmos were doing well despite the weather, and like dad's, still had plenty of buds left to open.

Blue Lobelia - November 2016

The Lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis) were one of the first flowers I planted this year, back in April, and they were still continuing to flower.

Ornamental Kale - November 2016

The Ornamental Kale (Brassica oleracea) was relishing the cold weather, and had put on a growth spurt since it had been planted about a month ago.

Smoke Bush Pattern - November 2016

Finally, probably one of the most beautiful plants in my garden wasn't a flower, but a shrub. The enormous Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria) that stands outside my front door was covered in these amazingly attractive leaves.

So, this week I'm making Behind the Cosmos my Image of the Week. They are such attractive flowers when viewed from either the front or back, and they won't be with us for much longer, so I think it is a very worthy choice...