Autumn berries

摘要

Berrying plants are an essential ingredient in autumn gardens. GRAHAM RICE picks the best trees, shrubs, roses and perennials for colour and beauty. It's often said that a good crop of fruit on autumn trees and shrubs is a sure sign of a hard winterto come, nature taking care to help the birds, voles, mice and squirrels through the worst weather by providing plenty of food. It's a nice idea but not actually the reason for a good show of berries. A memorable display is the result of a good season the previous year, when plenty of flower- and fruit-bearing wood develops, followed by a good spring in which flowering is prolific and there are no damaging frosts. Plenty of moisture as the fruit develops is also a big help. Now, here comes the big dilemma. Birds love autumn berries - fieldfares and other thrushes, in particular, depend on them and may arrive in the garden in flocks when they find you're laying on a slap-up meal. But berries are also an invaluable element of the garden's autumn colourwhich can soon disappear once those hungry birds get stuck in. The answer? Grow plenty of shrubs to feed the birds and the voles but also grow some that they'll hardly touch.