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The mixed borders..... are still giving a great deal of colour and form, particularly the grasses which are putting on a wonderful show. A blaze of colour comes from Schizostylis coccinea 'Major' a plant rather like a small lily but actually in
the iris family. Originating from the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa, This is a very valuable plant for its late flowering which may be found in both pink and white.

Near the bottom of the West lawn ... look out for two plants giving some autumn colour not far from the newly restored Rose garden. One is the shrub/tree Parrotia persica, the Persian ironwood. The leaves are turning a beautiful crimson and gold at this time of year, but do watch out for the most unusual flowers consisting of clusters of crimson stamens, that will appear in late winter/early spring. Near by you will see one of the most exquisite of small trees (suitable for most gardens) the paper bark maple, Acer griseum. The leaves are trifoliolate, (three separate leaflets), gorgeously coloured red and scarlet complementing the cinnamon-coloured under bark. This tree was introduced by Ernest Wilson in 1901. In the same area, do look out for the strikingly white autumn crocus Colchicum autumnale 'Album' which is not a crocus at all but from the lily family. Said by ancient authors to be especially abundant in Colchis, the Black Sea region of Georgia, Caucasus, the common name is naked ladies or naked boys because of the fact that it flowers without its leaves, which appear later on.

Deep in the Asia Garden...you will find - just below the Bear Pit area - the most unusual shrub, of botanical significance, Colletia hystrix which comes from Chile and northern Argentina, South America. Just weave your way around the area until you come upon it. This plant, introduced to Britain about 1882, has the most amazing spines, making it very difficult to prune, but what is so interesting at this time of the year is the small pitcher-shaped white flowers that are so beautifully fragrant. Be careful when you put your nose into them!!!