I am joining Chloris and her many followers in posting my Top Ten for November, please visit The Blooming Garden to see what their Top Ten are.
Number one, the seed heads of the Lunaria, which provides a silvery shine in the low November sunlight. This plant provides interest through out the whole year, from the young leaves with their maroon spots, the dark purple flowers and now the seed heads.

…growing in front is a young Cotinus, we lost a mature one a few years ago, therefore we are looking forward to this one developing and flowering in the future.

These two ‘Grasses’ make a striking feature at the end of the pebble river in the Oriental Garden. I originally saw this plant combination when visiting The Bressingham Gardens, Nr Diss, Norfolk.

This Viburnum, in the White and Green Garden, is one of the earliest flowering shrubs in the garden. It flowers from early autumn through to late spring, and looks particularly good when there is a blue sky behind it.

Anna from the The Greentapestry was recently singing the praises of this rose, mentioning that it flowers from July to November.

Here it is in the Iris bed on the south side of the house…

…along with ‘ ‘Geoff Hamilton’, I am hoping this bud will open.

I will always have Viola’s in the garden, whether it’s the diminutive ‘Heartsease’ which I grow from seed, (it does also self seed), or ones purchased from garden centres to provide colour through out winter.

We were given two Clivia three years ago, one flowered the first year, none the next year and one, (yippie!) so far this year.

I am not sure if Number ten qualifies for a November favourite, although it is one of mine and it is in the garden. The first sighting, today, of the female Blackcap on the bird feeders. I always like to see the arrival of this aggressive little bird, she always arrives before the male and tries to defend the feeders from all comers. the down side is that it heralds the arrival of winter weather, ‘Up North’ which will eventually make its way here.
This is a picture from 2014, they are quite nervous and therefore difficult to photograph. You can see more ‘Birdie” pictures by clicking the Wildlife Category.
That is my Top Ten in Our Garden@ 19, for November, I wonder what will be around for December?
A lovely selection, and you have reminded me how much I love Clivias! I don’t think I have ever had one myself… something for my Christmas list perhaps!
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Thank you Cathy. I will have a word with one of Father Christmas’s little helpers.🎅
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If we were one zone warmer, I would plant black mondo grass, but it probably wouldn’t make it through our winter, unfortunately. It is lovely!
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It works well in a pot with bulbs if you could bring it inside Eliza.
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That’s an idea – thanks!
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Look at your roses! Wow.
Can you offer any advice on growing Lunaria (I know it as Honesty). I’ve tried and failed before. Just last week I found a few branches of seedheads for sale at a Christmas market and I paid silly money for them. They have pride of place now on my hall table and put a smile on my face every time I pass by.
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I think I have some saved seed, although I may not know which one it is. If you would like some email me your postal address.
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You are very kind! I might take you up on that!
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I have both Hackonechloa and Ophiopogon but not planted together. Yours look well-behaved. Here, the Os have remained remarkably diminutive through their several years here. The Hs on the other hand have grown madly in their first year and any one of them is bigger than half a dozen Os put together.
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The Hs must be happy with you.
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Thank you for joining in Brian, I love your selection. Lunnaria Rosemary Verey is new to me, one to watch out for. I love Viburnum candidissimum, one of my favourite viburnums. Mine died last year and is sorely missed. Rosa ‘The Fairy’ is a poppet and I share your love of violas. I was surprised to see your clivia in flower, mine don’t bloom until April, how welcome at this time of the year.
I love your blackcap, what a lovely garden visitor.
I wonder whether we will be able to find blooms for December? I do hope so.
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I have some saved L. Seed which I think is RV. If you would like to take a chance with some, email me your postal address Chloris and I will send you some.
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Lovely choices! I am a great fan of Honesty and I have some stalks inside the house in a vase. In France the common name is “pope’s money” (Monnaie de Pape). Amelia
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I hadn’t heard of that name for it. I guess that proves the value of Latin names.
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I am a great fan of violas, and that little rose is charming!
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Your violas look beautiful and the viburnum is particularly striking. If I planted black mondo grass, it would just look like an oil leak. I hasten to add that I don’t think that about yours though Brian.
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A lovely colourful selection Brian. Sorry to hear about your burglary and loss of garden tools etc. What a nuisance. All the best. Karen
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Thank you Karen.
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We had a female blackcap visit just the once a few years ago and it definitely was a highlight. Our clivia has set seed so once it is ripe I am going to try and get some to germinate.
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I hope you are successful Sue. I will look out for seeds on ours.
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I need to find a more open spot for my ophiopogon I think. It has been sulking for several years now, but I like the idea of it as a pot addition too. ‘The Fairy’ rose looks wonderful for flowering in November. Is it always so good? How lovely to have a regular blackcap visitor. I’ve not seen mine again 😦
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I moved the ‘Fairy’ Rose two years ago. I think it is enjoying life on the south side of the house.
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The birds are definitely a top special in gardens…have had female and male blackcaps. Thanks for great pictures.
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