A Colourful Autumn at Englefield

As November rolls in, the nights may grow longer and the weather a bit dreary enjoy A Colourful Autumn at Englefield – whilst there’s still a chance for a burst of colour in the gardens at Englefield if the hard frosts hold off t make it a colourful time in Autumn at Engelfield.

With the warm stone of Englefield House providing a lovely backdrop, the flowers planted in the box borders offer a cheerful splash of brightness, even on the greyest days.

Late-season colour is supplied by Anemone x hybrida, also known as Japanese anemones, alongside Asters, Salvias, Dahlias, and Chrysanthemums, which thrive when many other plants have called it a day.

The Englefield Estate in West Berkshire is renowned for its stunning trees.

In November, particularly in a gentler autumn free of fierce winds, the leaves of the Acers, Oaks, Liquidamber, and Cotinus coggyria still showcase their wonderful colours.

Bright pink berries from Euonymus alatus, or burning bush, and the purple, jewel-like berries of Callicarpa bodinieri pop against the darker background of the woodland edges, bringing delightful bursts of colour.

Some plants, like Viburnum bodnantense and Viburnum tinus, continue to bloom vibrantly.

While Camellias are usually associated with spring, Camellia sasanqua surprises us by blooming in the autumn, standing proudly alongside its earlier flowering relatives.

Even when the flowers and leaves lose their colour in the Estate’s gardens and woodland, there’s still so much beauty to admire.

The flaking bark of Acer griseum or paperbark maple, showcasing its bright orange hue, contrasts beautifully with the striking white trunk and branches of the Betula utilis var., better known as the Himalayan or Kashmir birch.

The radiant red stems of Cornus sanguinea or Dogwood also add a charming touch during this season.

At Englefield, there’s been a thoughtful shift towards managing the Estate in harmony with nature, which includes the garden.

Head Gardener Susan Broughton joined with other team members in 2023 to complete a carbon literacy training course, helping the Estate achieve Silver status as a Carbon Literate Organisation.

Efforts in the garden feature reducing digging and tilling and letting some areas grow wild to support insect life, as well as the birds and other creatures that depend on these little friends.