Cotinus after rain

November miscellany

 

 

Tribal dance

Please click the photo to enlarge

 

The image was, in fact, developed from backlit cotinus leaves.

 

 

Yesterday in the garden

Around the flower garden in early June

Many of the plants in the flower borders seem to have been completely disorientated by the cold, wet Spring.  Several that should be in full bloom  –  for instance, roses and poppies  –  are still in bud, or are only just coming into flower.  Nevertheless, there are some attractive pockets of colour, as the following selection confirm:

Sunlight and shadows

As autumn encroaches the foliage on the cotinus becomes less dense and allows the sunlight to filter through, casting shadow patterns on the leaves beneath.  Textures and colours become prominent.  Fleetingly, illuminated abstract patterns emerge, contrasting with the shadowy surroundings.

The Cotinus in Autumn

For lovers of colour and texture in the garden there are few more rewarding shrubs than the cotinus.  Throughout the summer and early autumn it bears foliage that is first a deep purply red, becoming redder later.  As autumn progresses skeletal patterns appear (as can be seen in the first picture below) then, gradually, the rich colour drains, leaving behind a myriad of delightful pastel shades.

These two photos are from the same shrub and were taken a few days ago, within a minute of each other.  The first is of the top growth, exposed to the sun.

The second is from the lower shaded branches.  Unless there is a severe frost the upper growth too will adopt a similar colour range during the coming weeks.