Prunus serrulata ‘Alboplena’, my favourite tree at Cambridge Botanics, hanging on to the rock-garden path above the lake.
All fall down
Monkshood appears in various places in the gardens, addings its beautiful blue to a range of autumn plantings: grasses, japanese anemones and asters
The Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera) next to the path along side the systematic beds, is loaded with fruit this year
A stunning Liquidambar, Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’, guards the lake stepping stone crossing
The trees on the grassed Fairway are displaying a wonderful mixture of textures and colour.
It’s a popular area for picnic lunches or just getting some fresh air, not just humans either, if you look closely!
Yes, that is a fox trotting around in broad daylight. No sign of him being bothered by the hoards of visitors.
The swamp cypress has just been tidied up by the looks of it and is starting to turn a lovely soft russet.
Meanwhile the acers are turning an eye-catching, luminous scarlet (Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’)
Woolly fruits on the Broussonetia kazinoki tree are breaking up to reveal sweet, sticky, orange fingers/seeds.
Island beds in the Autumn garden are prairie-inspired, with monkshood, japanese anemone and echinacea interspersed amongst clumps of calamagrostis.
Wonderful – makes me come over all warm and glowey. Such a long time since I walked in the botanics at Cambridge. Thanks!
Ahh, you are welcome! It’s our local, but we haven’t been as much as normal this year of course. 😦
A very beautiful place; not one I’ve visited.
Well worth it, in the normal run of things and there are plenty of other nice gardens to visit within spitting distance of it, if you do make it!
Beautiful, that Liquidambar!
I know! L. ‘Worplesdon’ is a reliable bright red show, whatever the preceding weather has been … And with the lake in the foreground it is double the display.
I was surprised as could be to see the Osage Orange — one of our natives, and quite an interesting tree.
I adore your natives! What makes it interesting?
The wood is strong and flexible — the Osage Indians used it for their bows. It’s said to repel critters and insects from homes, as well — my cousin swears by it. It was named because of its popularity among the tribe that preferred it; there are Osage counties in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska — the traditional tribal lands. Also: native Texans often pronounce its other name (Bois d’Arc) as BO-dark. It’s a fun way to separate the ‘real’ Texans from others!
Ah, I hadn’t made the connection to native American Indians. Fascinating … and I love the ‘real’ Texans distinction!
Lovely fall colours! Fun to see the fox passing through as well.
You have to time your visit just right to catch the best of the colour, but luckily there is always something to admire. CUBG publish a weekly ‘Plant Picks’ to help direct you to the most interesting stuff to see: https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/plant-picks-week/
The foxes were a lovely bonus.
Wonderful autumn colours, CBG- always worth a visit. I’m amazed by that cheeky fox.
Yes, it was a treat to see. The fox was a classic double take situation. Hard to believe he was so brazen at 11am with so many people around!
What a smart fox!
Almost top hat and tails! Plus such a bushy tail.
Beautiful colours, I love autumn. The liquidamber always looks spectacular in autumn and that acer looks absolutely stunning in scarlet!
They are the best aren’t they? I’d love to see an aspen forest at leaf fall too though.