Malvern Horticultural Society

We all know how vibrant the autumn colours can be and you don’t need to have a huge garden to have your own dazzling display.

We had the deep purples of the smoke bush, red stems of the dogwood and the colourful foliage of a viburnum, a golden leafed Himalayan honeysuckle with its contrasting lantern like flowers and dark berries, and forsythia foliage, which will give russet tints if wood is left to grow for a year or longer.

Nor is there a shortage of perennial flowers. Sedums, penstemons, golden rod, fuchsias, and of course asters all add to the autumn palette.

Not to be outdone, annuals were still giving a good display and will do so until the frosts strike.

Rob recommended the pot marigold Indian Prince and Cherry Brandy, an annual rudbeckia that certainly lives up to its name.

Grasses have become increasingly popular partly because of their ability to last well into the winter.

Pumila, a dwarf variety of pampas grass, will provide heads of great fluffy plumes and by way of a contrast there was the wispy flower head of the Korean feather reed grass. Its name tells you all you need to know about what to expect.

Rob and Diane had brought with them a huge agricultural bucket crammed full of pickings from their garden.

There was so much that they did not manage to get through it all. And their message, delivered through an entertaining evening laced with humour, was simple: these riches are available to anyone.