It’s getting steadily colder, especially at night, but still not low enough for frost, so while the garden is wind battered it is still mostly alive and kicking. As ever, I will only be bounced into moving stuff under cover and setting up heaters when frost is imminent. I have to admit I’m a little less keen to get out there in the cold and wet with every year that passes so not much has been done, and while there is less urgency about it when it’s all moving so slowly, I really should be getting out the things that need getting out and planting as much as possible of my new stuff. Perhaps more than ever, with hotter, dryer summers becoming the norm, autumn planting is a good idea.
I went out this morning in gloomy light under thick cloud and took some pictures, then seemed to be too busy to repeat any of them when it brightened up. I’ll Photoshop them if they’re too dull. Six items of interest in the garden this Saturday, that’s the Six on Saturday brief; please join in if you can come up with that, post your post, put a link to it in my comments below. Read the participants guide if you want to know more. Right, what’s on the menu?
One.
My “things to come out” list includes a few fuchsias, as it has every year for the past several. Gall mite is working its way through them inexorably. Fuchsia ‘Rading’s Karin’ has so far been unaffected, along with the other encliandra section varieties we still have. It’s a hybrid of F. x bacillaris with scarlet flowers rather than the usual vivid pink, but still with tiny flowers in profusion, especially late in the year. It’s upright growing when it gets going but young plants like this one tend to sprawl about somewhat.
Two.
Musa sikkimensis ‘Bengal Tiger’ is coming into its third, maybe even forth winter in the ground. It seems to be hardy for me even without protection and is getting bigger each year even though it dies back almost entirely in the winter. The recent gales have left it looking tatty but hardly less impressive. It coped with the dry summer very much better than the Canna tuerkheimii alongside it, which I suppose shouldn’t be much of a surprise.
Three.
Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ takes the crown for last man standing among my Salvias. The others are standing but they’re not doing much. Last man standing isn’t an apt description either since for the most part it’s lying down, but it’s still flowering well, which is what really counts. Looking at the picture more closely I see that Salvia ‘Amistad’ is very much in the mix as well.
Four.
Among the plants that need getting under cover for winter are Sues collection of Mangaves. I have to confess that I have dumped a couple of them that were underperforming and at least one duplicate. They are not slow growers and every year lugging them up to my allotment tunnel becomes a less attractive prospect but it’s the only place there’s likely to be space. The good ones really are making fine specimens now, which at least provides the necessary motivation to look after them well. Not only are they heavy, they are absurdly brittle. This one is ‘Snow Leopard’ I think, I couldn’t find a label.
Five.
Our Hardy Plant Society meeting this month had Charlie Pridham, holder of a national collection of Clematis viticella varieties, as speaker. He was talking about the range of climbing plants he grows at Roseland House Garden and Nursery and mentioned Parthenocissus henryana in passing as a plant with interestingly marked foliage, even in shade. My reaction was “we used to have that, wonder if it’s still there”. It is, just. It featured in a 2017 six, its only outing, when it was much bigger and displaying good autumn colour.
Six.
I suppose it’s a sign of the times and a not altogether welcome one that this is the third time this year that I have seen fit to put Yucca gloriosa ‘Variegata’ into a six. I am not fond of tangling with it so the nine dead flower spikes from August are still there and there are nine new spikes coming up now, in November, to join them. There’s also just one flowering now. Pretty good value I have to say.
We have 3°C forecast for tonight and tomorrow night, a bit close for comfort with quite a few tender plants still knocking about outside. It’d be a mercy if it took out the Dahlias, they’re looking terrible after the storms. It’s then due to get a little milder again so I can resume my procrastination regarding getting things in. Have a good week.
The salvia is very impressive as is the yucca. I haven’t come across this Fuchsia gall mite, what a curse it seems to be. I love the mangaves, so far I only have 2 and I am trying to resist the need to buy more.
https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-stars-of-the-november-garden/
LikeLike
Gosh, your Amistad and Indigo Spires look wonderful – what a striking clump! Phyllis Fancy and Royal Bumble are both still in full flower here, but don’t make as much impact. The mangaves and yucca are are striking too and must make such an impact in your garden. I wonder how many clematis Charlie Pridham has in his collection…? Thanks for hosting, Jim https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-santa-claus-is-coming-to-town/
LikeLike
I have three ten-year-old clumps of Indigo Spires salvia in my garden, and they just keep blooming and blooming, so cheering right now!
LikeLike
Sorry you are losing fuchsias. After a scary and maybe too panicked cull in my garden when it appeared in summer of 2025, I saw no sign of it on remaining fuchsias (quite a few) in 2026.
Your salvias look great. My ‘Amistad’ is still flowering like mad.
My six: https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/2026/11/06/1-november-clean-up-compost/
I think I have taken the idea of not being wordy to an extreme.
LikeLike
Gall mite is a real pain. I have cut my large fuchsia down to the ground so I’ll see if it makes any growth next year, if not or if the gall mite returns then it’s out. I was motivated yesterday to pull the ivy off my twisted hazel, but other than that I just have a wander around the garden to check on things. Woodland border needs a refresh after builders’ boots have trampled on it. I don’t envy you having to cope with that Yucca!
LikeLike
I am amazed that you can grow a banana plant in your climate! I had a neighbor who had several, but that was in San Diego. the Parthenocissus henryana is nice! Does it bloom, or is it mostly a foliage plant? The salvia has great color! Here are my six. My area is nt in “dormant” mode. I still need to empty my other rain barrel and empty the pots so they do not crack in winter. Her are my six:
https://wisconsingarden.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/november-7-2026-six-on-saturday/
LikeLike
I share your caution to deal with any yucca variety. There are no rose gloves or arm shields capable of protection from stabbing or cutting. Here are a gentler group of summer survivors from central Alabama, https://aftereden.blog/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-7-november-2026/
LikeLike
I have been trying to kill two for 10 years. Not as pretty as gloriosa and no idea the variety – limp grey leaves that sprawl around. It still sends up shoots, I dig up as much root as I can but it is probably 60 years old. I do not allow anything above ground. Someday it may be starved out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello from Orkney Jim, the weather here, after storm Boelo ripped through, is settled but gloomy, we’re rapidly approaching the time when six hours of daylight will become the norm.
Generally the garden here is pretty much over for the year, but surprisingly there are some plants that clearly think November is the new July, and it’s a half dozen of those that are weeks Six on Saturday
https://agardeninorkney.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, your description of getting out there to pull in plants and tending to autumn tasks rings true. My motivation is waning, as well. What a delight to have so many Fuchsias still blooming! Yours are beautiful. I still have some hanging in pots on the front porch, and some I’ve placed in the sunroom for overwintering. Here’s my “six” for the week. Thank you for hosting!
https://plantpostings.blogspot.com/2026/11/tithonias-in-november.html
LikeLike
The Parthenocissus does have unusually attractive leaves! Surprisingly, I also still have a salvia flowering. Everything seems about 2 weeks delayed here.
https://highgategarden.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/promise-for-the-future/
LikeLike
My Salvias are also the most impressive of the perennials this time of year. They are still attracting the remaining pollinators. I have to agree on the Cannas. They really struggled in the dry heat.
LikeLike
I grow Henry over an arch and in autumn he turns such a lovely soft colour. Picking the leaves and leaf stalks off the gravel paths below is a chore though. The Mangave foliage is so striking and the Yucca is rather splendid at this time of year.
https://thequiltinggardener.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-07-11-2026/
LikeLike
I love the musa. That’s one I’d like to have here, perhaps I’ll risk it one day. ‘I used to have that’ is a constant refrain here. Used to have Indigo Spires but gone. Never had Parthenocissus henryana but it looks good. Glad you found it again. Here’s my link https://n20gardener.com/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-foggy-day-in-london-town/
LikeLike
I’m with you, finding the motivation to go out in the garden can be tough when the weather’s so gloomy. Here in Berkshire we had a nice bright day on Friday which lifted my mood and I was able to get some things done.
My six https://wp.me/p88ZiK-e3P
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like that Salvia. the flowers are a beautiful colour. We are having a late spring cold snap atm….temps dropped to 2C last night and again tonight. They predicted snow on our mountain today, but it didn’t eventuate. https://cathscamera.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-7-11-26/
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is always interesting to see the plants you grow Jim, even though many would be too tender for me here. The Salvia is a beauty and your fuchsias too. I am joining in again this week. Many thanks for hosting! https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-a-chill-in-the-air/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I probably lose as many plants over winter to constant wet and slugs as you do to cold. Things survive the winter but never get away in spring. Fuchsias were always good for us as the slugs weren’t interested, then gall mite came along!
LikeLike
Thre is always something to keep us gardeners on our toes!
LikeLike
It dropped to below 3 here last night. Briefly at least. Fortunately this week’s six is mostly about bringing things inside. I love those Mangaves, but sympathise with the problem off stuff that needs to be moved getting bigger. At some point lugging them about becomes untenable. I’ve forewarned my sons they’ll be required to visit this time of year to do the lifting for me. https://potsandplots.blog/2026/11/07/sixonsaturday-17-10-2026-2/
LikeLike
Yucca gloriosa ‘Variegata’ is a nice colony. what is so bad about it? Has it just grown too large? Since you can grow ‘Bengal Tiger’ banana, can you grow fruiting cultivars also? Oh, too many questions. Here are my six.
Six on Saturday: Best for Last – Tony Tomeo
LikeLike
Fuchsia gall mite sounds like a right pain. I’m glad ‘Rading’s Karin’ is doing okay so far though – fingers crossed it continues that way – it’s a beauty. https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/six-on-saturday-7-november-2026/
LikeLike
Fuchsia gall mite absolutely is a pain, it’s getting to the point where I’m losing the will to fight what seems like a losing battle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m very impressed with your Parthenocissus. Such fine decoration on the leaf, and certainly worth including again after such a long interval.
My effort this week does highlight a fuchsia that’s coming into it’s own just now. Must keep an eye on it for those mites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 1 person