AUTUMN EFFECTS IN THE GARDEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19760, 10 April 1926, Page 3

AUTUMN EFFECTS IN THE GARDEN.

By James A. MTherson, F.R.H.S., D.S.X.H.

Written for the Otago Daily Times.

The long happy clays of summer have drawn to a close: leaves flutter mournfully to the ground, and, walking round our' gardens and parks, we observe trees and shrubs which, doubtless, were ignored in their summer dress, decking themselves in gaudy and glorious colourings seemingly in wild defiance of death or mavbe in order that we may take notice of them ere it is too late. To the_ keen observer there is mystic rhythm in the falling leaf and fiery glory in the autumn-tinted foliage. . To show Natures autumn pictures to their full advantage the gardener must plant judiciously, having a tr..e picture of the ultimate effect deep seated in the mind’s eye. Two facts stand paramount if the desired effect is to be obtained. To prolong their display autumn leaves require plenty of shelter from the wind, and to bring out the rich colourings both leaves and fruits require ample sunshine during the summer months. To lovers of red and crimson foliage a long list of suitable species awaits their choice. The scarlet oaks are really a glorious sight in autumn. Quercus coccinea displays crimson loaves, while the leaves of Quercus rubra turn a brilliant red. To these may be added Q. heterophylla and Q. palust'ris. All the Enkianthus, rather rare shrubs as yet in our gardens, turn a magnificent wine colour. These shrubs, which are worthy of better cultivation, reouire the same treatment as rhododen(lrons.

Several of the spindle-woods arc very effective, such as Euonymus europaeus, E. latifolius, and E. ycdoensis, all with purple-red foliage. Among the Viburnums we may pick out two very fine species— V. acerifolimn and V. opulus, the latter being a very rapid grower. The genus Spiraea furnishes us with three good reds all easy of cultivation—Spiraea prunifolia, S. Tunbergii, and S. Van Houttii. Even among the Sumachs we find vivid foliage. Rhus trichocarpa decks itself in orangescarlet. a truly wonderful sight, while the stag's horn Sumach. R. typhina, is equally as good. I hesitate to mention another Rhus of beautiful foliage. If grown it should be planted out of barm's way. It is Rhus toxicodendron (often confused with the harmless Virginia creeper, Arapelopsis Veitchii). the milky juLe of which causes painful blisters and eczema. It is known as the poison ivy of North America. I myself cannot touch the plant, haying been twice severely attacked by its poison.

Rhododendrons of the azalea type have long been known for their wonderful autumn foliage. Among the barberries w<; find a fine range of crimson and scarlet foliage, especially those of recent introduction. Berberies cocJnea, B. Wilsonae, B. Thmibergii, B. Tischleri, B. vulgaris, and B. Francisci-Eerdinandii may be taken as good examples. Recently introduced to New Zealand is the American blueberry. It is really a large fruiting vaccinlum, and gives us good red foliage in autumn. Two other species are worthy of mention—namely, V. parvifolium and V. arctostaphylos. Fothergilla alnifolia. Primus avium. Pvru? arbutifolia, Crataegus prunifolia and Oxydondron arborenni will conclude for the present our list of red and crimson foliage plants, leaving us space to consider the yellow and gold of autumn. To many gardeners vellow and golden leaves appeal more than the reds and crimsons, and we must admit that, while equally as showy, they have a soft ton* surrounding them. Beech, cak, elm and birch, reminding us so much of English woodlands, delight ns in the autumn with their yellow and goldenbrown foliage, making a pleasing contrast to the many shades of green in our native bush. Zclkova aouminota and Zelkova crenata. two trees closely allied to the elms, though rare in New Zealand as vet. are very useful for producing autumn effects similar, if not superior to. the oak.

A picturesque tree to watch both in spring and again in the fall is the favourite golden ash. It produces unfailingly each year its magnificent display. Cladrastis tlnctora, the “vellow wood” of North America, is a tree belonging to the pea family. Tts autumn leaves alone make it a worthy addition to gardens. A handsome little shrub which also produces golden foliage is Fothergilla major, a native of South Carolina.

The list is by no means exhausted: b"t it is sufficient for our nurnosp if we add the maiden-hair tree, Ginko bilobn, that strange tree, surrounded as it is with palaeontological romance, a glorious study in gold during the autumn. To begin and end with leaves falls far

I short of autumn effects in the garden j What of the many fruits of brillian 1 colourings?—the gay-coloured "haws,” the | many shades of ‘T-rahs,” berries of all sizes land shapes, some borne singly, others m great profusion, tint all adding to the glory of the season. Some plants produce' both fruit and leaves of brilliant colouring, such arc borboris, mountain ash, and cornus. These are of great use when space will not permit extensive planting. The following list, irrespective of shape and size of fruits, gives some idea of the variety at our disposal;—Cotoneasters (red and yellow), V.crboris species (rod. black, plum), Arbutus unodo, the strawberry tree (orange red), Acer Pseudoplatanus orythroearpum, which, despite its lingo name is the red-winged sycamore, Coriaria (red and yellow), Ilex or holly (red and yellow), ilex vcrticillata (a deciduous holly), which hears its berries well into winter and is worthy of extensive cultivation, liosa (rc'd and scarlet), especially Kosa Davidii and Rosa Moyesii, whoso fruits are exceedingly large and more attractive than the flower, llippoph ae ramnoidos (orange), I’ernettya miicronafa (white, crimson, and chocolate), Pyrus (especially the Aueuparla section to which belongs the mountain ash or rowan (red, yellow, and wine), all the crahapples (red, orange, and yellow), Symphoricarpus (red and white), Pyracantha (scarlet), all the Crataegus (red and yellow), Staphylea and Collntea (brown bladders). P.lue-colonred fruits are scarce, but the following have showy blue fruits; —Vitis heterophylla, Cornus species, Clerodeudron trichocarpa, and Clerodeudron Fargessii. There are several plants which have cop-per-coloured foliage right throughout the year, and must not he excluded from our list. These are Primus pissnrdi and its varieties, Primus Moserii, and the magnificent copper beech. It is well to remember when planting, as 1 have before stated, to plant with a picture in the mind’s eye. This well repays any extra labour involved, for truly the glory of the autumn, though short, oft excels the summer just past.