Wow, we are into November. I’m still in Canada, and there’s been a lot of Halloween garden action this week as I’ve been on my travels around Toronto. Here’s a partly spooky, partly glorious autumn colour #SixOnSaturday from other people’s garden in Toronto.

WOW — to a European the sugar maple at this time of year is an astonishingly beautiful spectacle. This one was back lit by the afternoon sun. What a glorious plant.

Next, as I’ve wandered around there are surprising things in people’s gardens, even small front gardens. Look at these sunflowers! There’s been n frost here yet.

Now for some spooky stuff. These people went to town with a garden full of Halloween activity.

And these spooky giant cats were many metres tall, in a very elegant front garden.

On my walking travels, I took in some fabulous colour, just along the side of a road, leading into a park. What wonderful reds.

I saw some odd sights, like a huge clump of sunflowers in a front garden.

And to finish this week, this isn’t a garden, but it is the Humber River, near it’s mouth at Lake Ontario, a peaceful scenes in wonderful sunshine with autumn loveliness.

I hope you enjoyed my travelling six this week. there will be more of these if I can find some gardens to enjoy. Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog. Join in with our #SixOnSaturday thoughts and images. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

No six last week due to some technical issues, and to me being away travelling. I still am. I’m lucky enough to be in Canada for a few weeks. My posts may include some of my home garden (with my partner busy keeping the place tidy, sweeping endless winter leaves, etc), and some of my environs here. Last week I visited Vancouver Island and went to the ‘world famous’ Butchart gardens. And WOW, they are certainly in the top 3 gardens I have ever seen, still full of summer colour, with autumn leaves on top. So here are the highlights for this week’s #SixOnSaturday.

This is the classic view of their most iconic garden: the sunken garden is built inside a former quarry. The planting and colours are fabulous, the lawns are immaculate. Really WOW!

Another favourite area was the Japanese Garden. A much shadier, informal place. There was lots of wonderful autumn colour, here with the Japanese Bridge brining out acer colours.

And here a view through the foliage of bronze-leaved acer.

Everywhere, there were varieties of maple in full colour. This wonderful specimen is even redder than the Canadian flag.

I wasn’t as keen on the Italian Garden, perhaps because, although the design was Italian, I don’t things the blooms on display would make it through a summer in Italy. They have done wonderfully in the temperature pacific north-west maritime climate.

And finally, my favourite thing in the whole garden was this delicate flower. This is Abutilon Tiger Eye. shrub that is sometimes also know as the Parlour Maple. It had the most perfect flowers, I’ve never seen anything like it.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s exotic Six. I’m travelling for a while, so there will be more to come. Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog. Join in with our #SixOnSaturday thoughts and images. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Bright autumn days allow some of the last colourful displays in the garden to really shine. Here are a few of those lovely colours for #SixOnSaturday.

First up is a wonderful red chilli. Lots of sunshine is allowing those chillies to finally ripen in the greenhouse. Here’s a vibrant one, possibly a jalapeño.

More delicate, and outdoors in the elements, astrantia looks almost translucent in the autumn light.

Back into the greenhouse for my favourite chilli of all, the deliciously fruity, yet quite hot, loom drop. And what gorgeous colour.

Rose this year have been magnificent, and they still are. I simply cannot resist including another rose, in the warm afternoon sunshine.

My even more favourite chilli of all, Alberto Rotocco, this sturdy plant often overwinters in the greenhouse, produces huge delicious juicy chillies for a lot of the year, and reliably grows babies from collected seeds, what’s not to love.

After the unusual warmth and dryness of the summer, amarine are flowering magnificently. What stunning colour, I hope they keep up the display for weeks.

I hope you enjoyed my October colour.

Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

October has blown in with the first named storm of the season. I’m writing this blog on Friday afternoon with the wind rising and the rain pouring. yet, it is still warm. This morning I popped out to see what was new, and there were a number of surprises. This week’s #SixOnSaturday features things I didn’t really expect to spot in October.

A big surprise to start with. Back in July, my lupins gave up on the dry and warm conditions and faded away. I’ve not seen them come back with such a flourish before and certainly not in October.

Perhaps less of a surprise, as these window boxes sit on the courtyard windowsills, so I see them whenever I go in and out of the house. Summer geranium are doing really well still, though I need to keep an eye on frosts so that they can be swept into the greenhouse soon.

This is the second time this season that wigela have had a go at a second flowering. The shrubs are looking wonderful, with more flowers this time.

Yet again, an old OLD traditional rose is going for full flower, and I’m pleased that it has been warm enough to smell the wonderful spicy scent.

Perennial cornflower loves my garden conditions. Even more so this year, as several plants are throwing up a few more flowers. A lovely form to this flower.

This must be a first for my veg garden in October. Usually, there are sufficient cool nights that courgettes shrink away to nothing by the 2nd week of September. Not so this year. Fruit AND flowers into October, what resilience.

I hope you enjoyed my October surprises as much as I enjoyed finding them. I fear there may not be much left after Amy has done her worst overnight.

Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

There’s been some more wonderful autumn weather lately, cold mornings, yet lots of sunshine. I’ve had a good look round the garden, and found yet more pink and red blooms to enjoy the season with. Happy #SixOnSaturday.

First, a summer favourite, valerian is having another go, a second flush of flowers after lots in June and July. Here she is.

There are also some hardy geranium left, they have been going for months on end, and I’ve shown them many times. here they are again.

Also still going, are verbena bonariensis, these have had a great year.

Also near the end of the season, Japanese anemone are waving their cheerful flowers around.

Sedum are one of my autumn favourites, and are in full bloom now. This year the dry weather has made the stems shorter. I like that, they don’t get blown over as much.

Last but not at all least, some tiny cyclamen have appeared in a shady border. A wonderful splash of delicacy amidst the dark green shade.

I hope you enjoyed an autumn #SixOnSaturday. We are now past the equinox, Scotland is rapidly darkening, I’m not much looking forward to the grey cold that seems to be fast approaching…..time for us all to chin-up and keep exploring the garden.

Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

It looks like this year’s autumn is going to be a stunner for colour. I look forward to it, and have had a mooch round the garden this week to find some interesting early autumn foliage. Here are my #SixOnSaturday.

Almost time to say goodbye to hosta. We have not had any frost yet, so although hostas look a little battered, they are beautifully green, lush and rather summery.

A large, 3m cotinus has taken on its wonderful autumnal red-wine colour. A lovely draw for the eye in a flower border that is now mostly green.

Also trying to keep summer going just a bit, my fig tres are trying to ripen up a few more fruit. I fear it really is way too late and they will have to be taken off soon.

Cotoneaster are looking wonderful, full of ripe fruit. I don’t think it has been cold enough for blackbirds to start harvesting this lot.

Despite an unusually warm summer, I had not had much luck with dahlia flowers this year. This plant has lovely leaf colour but is only just putting out buds now. I wonder if any late flowers will emerge?

Finally this week, here are some wonderful seed heads from a yellow-flowering clematis. Soon, little garden birds will be stealing these to make cosy winter roosting pockets.

I hope you enjoyed an autumn #SixOnSaturday. As the nights grow darker, I’m not much looking forward to the grey cold that seems to be fast approaching…..time for us all to chin-up and keep exploring the garden.

Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Mid-september has finally brought autumn, gusty winds and sharp showers are beginning to hammer my garden, but there’s lots of lovely stuff still holding on. I’ll feature some of these for this week’s #SixOnSaturday. But first, a little advert for a lovely garden in Northumberland. I was on holiday here this last week, the ‘quarry garden’ at Belsay hall is totally amazing. here’s a couple of shots of it.

Now I’m home, here are the autumn survivors. Dahlias always surprise me, yet always do well in September. I love a pure white one, especially with interesting petals.

I am also a fan of simpler flowers, loved by insects, with vibrant colours. red dahlia has done pretty well for me this year, despite a cold spring.

A friend gave me some snap dragon seeds a few years ago. These plants don’t always make it through our harsh winters, but I’ve managed to keep a few in pots and am now well rewarded.

On the edibles side, there is lots happening. We are still drowning in apples despite drying some for apple chips, freezing, juicing every day, phew, what a year.

Tomatoes were very late in 2025. I have been careful to strip off leaves fairly early to get that lowering sun fully onto the fruit. It’s going well so far.

As ever, delicious purple grapes are ripening in the greenhouse. This year I’m drying some to make home-made raisins. yes, it’s a faff, but in mid winter, they are wonderful.

I hope you enjoyed my vibrant autumn #SixOnSaturday. Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

I fifth #SixOnSaturday for August this year. To celebrate what feels like a bonus, in what has been the UK’s hottest summer on record, here are 6 beautiful purple blooms.

One of my favourites is hardy geranium, maybe Roseanne. Even when I (frequently) forget to chop it back mid-season, it scrambles around and delivers flowers above all the used-up foliage.

There are a few sweetie left, they have had a great summer, perhaps because I have remembered to pick, feed, water, repeat.

For the new season, I now have Michaelmas daisies in flower.

And from the old season again, there are a few cornflowers in pots that have come up with a new brush of blooms.

Again, a last flush from some of my lavender plants now that they finally have some water.

To end this week, here’s a hint of autumn, colchicum are coming up, always a bright burst if I manage to clear away some of this summer’s lush growth.

I hope you enjoyed my summery six, I thought we all deserved a burst of colour to end this astonishing summer. Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

August rushes on and despite some cooler, more ‘typical’ temperatures this week in our corner of Scotland, so many garden-highlights are SO early. I’ve decided to focus on fruit for my #SixOnSaturday this week, because apples and pears are ripening about 3 weeks earlier than usual. I’ll also show off my figs, yet again, because the outdoor fig trees have yielded almost a dozen fruit between them. I’ve never seen anything like it.

So, here you another delicious looking ‘brown turkey’ fig, almost ready to eat. grown outdoors in Scotland. Go for it folks!

In contrast, here are the fruit from a tree that is possibly over 200 years old. A pear tree grows against the south facing wall of the house and I like to think it might have been planted when the house itself was new. I don’t know the variety, they are delicious but have the annoying habit of all ripening at once. Perhaps I’ll find time to try some jam making this weekend.

I think my garden is probably partly an old orchard. There are 10 apple trees, only one of them planted about 20 years ago, the others — ancient! The varieties are also unknown, although the trees were planned by someone with knowledge as each tree’s fruit ripens in succession. The first (and largest) tree has already dropped 90% of its fruit, the others are just starting. By now, we pick up windfalls at the rate of a bucket per day! This one isn’t quite ready yet, has a thick skin, so can be stored for a while.

A few years ago, a storm took out 70% of one apple tree, leaving a 1m stump. The tree has somehow regenerated and offers a pale green fruit.

This year, most trees are simply heaving with apples. The branches are weighed down really close to the ground, as you can see here. This variety have a dark red skin and pink flesh, making a very pretty juice.

Last, but very much not least, there are several cooking-apple trees, some of which will hold fruit until November. great for autumn puddings, sour juice and to share with hungry birds.

That’s my fruitful six for the week. It’s calm and quiet outside this Saturday morning, a great time to go tidy up the latest windfall fruits. Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Some seriously hot weather this week, with temperatures shooting up to 27 degC on Thursday (8 deg above average for August!). This was followed by a huge thunderstorm that delivered 1cm hail and 63mm of rain in 40 minutes. I’ve not seen anything like that in Scotland before, it felt like being in the Alps! My garden seems to have recovered well from the beating. But even so, I decided to focus on the greenhouse for this week’s #SixOnSaturday. All edibles this week, some doing very nicely.

The humble cucumber is a wonderful veg when picked fresh from the greenhouse. The small ones seem to be the most tasty. This one is about the size of my hand-width.

A range of chillies are coming on. This year, I have tried to give each plant a bit more space and light, else they don’t always get really ripe, or really hot. This one is as long as my hand, and beginning to turn red. I’m slightly annoyed that I’ve lost the species label. Time will tell how hot and spicy this one will be.

A thin vine from South America, Achocha does OK outside in a good year. In the greenhouse, it really thrives. Fruits are spiky and thumb-sized. I take out the (very sharp pointy) seeds and then fry or roast like a bell-pepper.

We have had a pretty good summer here. When cooler, it has been sunny, when cloudy warm. The figs have loved it. We’ve had a good few to eat from the greenhouse, and outdoors against a big south-facing wall, they are beginning to ripen.

Tomatoes have made a slow start, and seem quite variable. That makes a nice change, they are currently ripening at my eating rate, so no need to dry or freeze any yet. This gorgeous variety is “Audrey’s love”. Sweet, juicy and satisfyingly striped. She also grow under 1m tall, so ideal for the greenhouse bench.

Early this year, grapes are beginning to ripen. I’d better get eating as the vine fills the top of the greenhouse. They have enjoyed the recent heat.

That little lot show what can be grown at 56.6 deg north in a largish greenhouse. It is very much the most satisfying section of my garden. Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot