I went about my garden yesterday and took some photos. What became obvious to me was that some plants were not yet going into late autumn mode thanks to the warm, dry weather we have been experiencing for a few weeks now.
I could only find one rose-hip where normally there are many by now and a small patio rose has put on new leaf and lo and behold has new flower buds.
But the Smoke bush is in full autumn colour from yellow, to orange, to red, to deep crimson and its leaves are falling in the breezy conditions this week.
And the Cotoneaster has its berries swelling and deepening into bright red. They are not ripe enough yet for the birds but I am watching for the feast to begin.
Many of the deciduous trees look dry-leaved but are not turning their vibrant colours because our nights have not been cold and crisp yet.
And just to confuse things a little further the small kowhai bushes are busy flowering.
ordinarygoodness 
Our garden here is not exactly confused but it is being very persistently ‘summer’. Kowhai blooming now is very early.
The garden behaves differently every year. This year beetroot just couldn’t be bothered but the Black Doris pulled out a stunning performance. The red runners struggled but the cabbages did very well indeed. The Cox’s Orange also found the year too challenging but the parsnips burst out of the ground. Next year? Who knows? You might have rose hips by the bucket and the kowhai refuses to bloom at any time.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I am still picking cherry tomatoes but the crop has been meagre this year. Black Doris plums were wonderful this year as you report.
Gardening keeps up guessing.
No wonder the plants are confused; it’s like the summer we never had right now, only not too hot. So strange to see kowhai in flower.
So many plants are responding to the warmth and sun in a manner I would expect in summertime as you say Juliet. These kowhais are a dwarf variety and I wonder if that means they flower less traditionally. I must note their patterning so I can compare seasons. Enjoy the balmy conditions Juliet:-)
My banksia rose is having a second flowering which has never happened before.
This late warmth is certainly showing up some interesting phenomena Ruth. Enjoy your banksia rose.
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