The sun and mild temperatures continue to keep the garden bright. The Cosmos sulphureus, that was dying off, has decided to push out more flowers and the other Cosmos are growing from this year’s seed and flowering. Today my neighbour went to cut down the dead growth on her asparagus plants only to find that they had shot up shoots for a second time and she was able to harvest a good quantity to eat.
Nevertheless, we are going into the season that is optimal for planting new trees and shrubs – or at least for planning.
I would like to share the stars and stalwarts of my garden in the hope it might give ideas to other gardeners and also to hear from other bloggers.
My Mahonia “Charity” is perhaps not placed in the ideal position for it as it is mainly in the shade but it is near the house, so it has to make do!
Mahonia Media “Winter Sun” is in a better position for light but it is very dry in the summer at the bottom of the garden. However, it blossoms abundantly despite the hard love it gets.
We have a second Mahonia “Winter Sun” which is very shady as well as dry in the summer. They all take this tough treatment without any special care and no sign of disease.
The flowers are adored by the bumble bees.
The honey bees and butterflies are attracted by the nectar too.
Of course, the downside of Mahonias are their sharp leaves. However, you can choose the variety “Soft Caress” which I have found to be just as resilient as my other Mahonias. The leaves really are fine and agreable to stroke, if you are in the habit of stroking and talking to your plants.
The only downside is that it flowers here in September when there are more flowers. It is also a smaller plant only growing to just over a metre tall. It is evergreen, like all the Mahonias, so still a beautiful plant for the early autumn.Mahonias are my sort of plants. I would love to hear about your tried and tested favourites.
a french garden 
Mahonia is currently in full flower here in south Devon and I have seen people taking photos of the brilliant yellow displays. The weather has been poor, grey and damp, so insects have not had much of a chance to get out. I have seen some bumblebees but so far it is mainly honeybees. Another shrub that the bees like here is winter honeysuckle and that has just come into flower.
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It is good to see the winter flowering plants whether it is grey or sunny. Amelia
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Beautiful shrubs. I love their scent in spring when they are one of the first flowers to open for the bees here. I am not sure what sort they are, but must have been in our countryside for decades as they spread everywhere – just like the wild clematis if you let it! I have never had to plant one. 😉
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I’ve never seen any in the woods near me. I don’t think there were ever any gardens around to provide escapees. Amelia
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Good idea! I love the winter flowering ones too.
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Please share any of your tried and tested plants. It is good to think about plants that work in real gardens. Amelia
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We have them here in in the Pacific Northwest, in forest clearings, a native variety, AKA Oregon Grape, they also seed themselves, though when we moved in 21 years ago, we bought seedlings from the county conservation initiative, little knowing that we had them in all sorts of places. It is lovely to see one, bright yellow at the top, on a gloomy day. They grow happily wherever they can get a little day light, seem to appear as the leaves drop, and it seems that there is often a snowberry growing alongside. Not as fancy as your cultivars Amelia, but still a joy. Also the berries of some varieties are edible.
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There are so many of our favourite garden plants that owe their origins to the USA. I know that there are gardens that can keep to just native plants and have a great display. I feel that there are less Euroean plants. The land in Europe has been cultivated since prehistoric times and I suppose many species were destroyed by ancient ploughing and farming. Amelia
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Definitely going to follow your blog!
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Nothing else gives fragrance and masses of yellow flowers in November and December, every garden should have mahonias. I have huge mature shrubs , some of them labelled ‘Charity’ and some of them named ‘Winter Sun’. To tell the truth I can’t tell them apart. Can you tell me the difference?
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I have looked and I cannot tell any difference between the two varieties. I wanted a “Charity” as they have a beautiful specimen in the Savill Gardens and I wanted to have one just like that. Afterwards, I saw the “Winter Sun” varieties and bought them. Amelia
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I’m glad it’s not just me. They look the same and they bloom at the same time.
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Yes, mine bloom at the same time too.
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We are not far from the native range of the Oregon grape, but it does not seem to do well for us. I suspect that it prefers less arid coastal climates, but even here near the coast, it always looks grungy. It responds favorably to alternating canes, but not many of us prune it like that much.
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Interesting. I can imagine a lot of reticence to pruning Mahonia, I love the plant but not the prickles. Amelia
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The bit that lives here is so overgrown that I would prefer to cut it to the ground and start over. It regenerates readily.
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That sounds the best way to deal with an overgrown Mahonia. In fact, it is a good idea for many plants that have become unruly.
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Yes, but well maintained mahonias should not need it. The older canes can be cut to the ground as they age, so that younger canes can replace them. That is how I would have preferred to do it for the landscapes at work, where I am more concerned about aesthetics.
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I’ll bear that in mind and not let my mahonias go to far before they get a trim 🙂
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