Autumn Beauty: Fuchsia

These lovely dainty flowers still cheer us up during the autumn, though a sharp frost will see the end of their blooms.

Purple Fuchsia

Pink Fuchsia

Chocolate Cosmos

Cosmos atrosanguineus derives its Latin name  from its colour of dried blood – but the plant’s popular name, chocolate cosmos,  comes from its incredible chocolate fragrance

“Chocolate Velvet” Click image to enlarge

Another lovely fragrant flower in my favourite colour, it really does smell of chocolate… and vanilla! I rescued three of these plants from the market this summer when they were in a pretty dire condition (only cost me £1 each). Re-potted and given a ‘Chelsea crop’ they have flourished and rewarded me with many lovely blooms. Although not hardy so they won’t survive the winter here, I think I have had my money’s worth from them this year 🙂

Tree Ferns

Tree ferns are slow-growing architectural plants with spreading fronds above a thick trunk. They make striking plants for a sheltered, shady garden.

A tree fern unfolding