JEARRARD'S HERBAL
1st November 2026
Dahlia merckii 'Alba' .
Sunshine returned this week. I potted a plant this morning and the watering can was empty. The can fills from the overflow from the rain tanks and we haven't had any rain
which is unusual for the last week of October. The garden is undecided about the season . Most of the trees have felt the touch of Autum, leaves have browned or fallen.
Among the camellias, 'Winters Interlude' and 'Winters Snowman' tell their own seasonal story. C. 'Nobilissima' is making early noises about the spring to come.
However, in front of the house I have a few dahlias that are still in their summer clothes.
Dahlia merckii 'Alba' has established, after a few unsuccessful attempts, and is producing a good supply of warm-white flowers.
1st November 2026
Liquidambar styraciflua .
In the middle of the garden I grow Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' and I meassure the passage of the season through its foliage.
A few weeks ago it burnished and has slowly turned red. Now it is at its brightest in the low sunshine but even at its peak the movement of the year can be seen.
It is dropping leaves and ther colour is thinning on the branches. No extravagant coiffure could conceal the creeping baldness of its pate.
Its prominence in the garden tends to eclipse this Liquidambar seedling, growing behind a Magnolia by the house, but it is contributing to the autumn colour,
coming to a peak about a fortnight later than 'Worplesdon'. At its best it turns deep, lustrous purple before the leaves fall (storms permitting).
1st November 2026
Camellia 'Narumigata' .
Last week the autumn camellis had started to make an early show. This week they have hung out the banners to celebrate some late sunshine.
'Narumigata' has opened a few gigantic flowers and will continue to produce them until the end of December. It is a single, white selection
with a pink blush on the reverse of the petals, but there is no chance of mistaking it for C. sasanqua 'Rainbow',
built to the same description but lacking the poise of 'Narumigata'.
'Rainbow' is good, it is shy and floriferous, coyly greeting the autumn with an innocent blush, but it doesn't produce a fanfare of gentle hush like 'Narumigata'.
1st November 2026
Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt' .
In the sunshine the gardens clear hints of winter looked incongruous. As I walked back to the house yesterday I noticed the first flower on
Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt'. I have grown many forms of Iris unguicularis but this old selection is the one that has been reliable, year after year.
I have it planted against the south wall of the house and I would plant a lot more of them, but I only have a few feet of south facing wall.
Space on it is very precious.