Slowly and silently, the cool breath of autumn is reaching into our glens and woodlands, chilling the air and turning all the birch and beech leaves to gold.
In gardens across Scotland, rich new colours glow in the slanting sunlight. Sparked by the first frosts, deciduous trees and shrubs blaze with colour in a last brilliant show of natural fireworks before winter takes a firm grip.
At Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire, the Lindera, or spice bushes, are turning a clear, vibrant yellow, while the Enkianthus are on fire with hues of red and orange. Sorbus trees draw the eye, their deep-pink leaves providing a backdrop for heavy clusters of red berries, while the gorgeous hips of Rosa rugosa shine like polished apples.
After the long, hot summer, it can come as a surprise to see how autumn draws new magic out of our garden plants. The tall, white heads of Hydrangea paniculata rise above foliage that has turned a beautiful butter yellow, and the crimson pods of the spindle bush, Euonymus planipes, burst open to reveal clusters of dangling orange seeds.
In the heart of Perth, Branklyn Garden is also falling under autumn’s spell. The delicate fronds of Japanese maples shimmer with burnished copper and bronze, while splashes of pure yellow are added by Betula lutea, a birch from North America. This is the season when Liquidambar trees come into their own, dazzling the eye with a burst of flaming colour. And save your breath for the exotic Katsura, the toffee tree, whose vivid golden leaves smell of burnt sugar.
Chris Wardle, garden adviser for the National Trust for Scotland, is anticipating a spectacular show in gardens and woodlands throughout the country.
He says: “After the long, drawn-out summer, I’m sure the display this year will be exceptional.
“Make sure you visit our gardens in the coming weeks and enjoy the autumn colours at their best.”
For more information on all National Trust for Scotland gardens, visit www.nts.org.uk/ visitgardens
Getting there: It’s 15 miles west of Aberdeen and three miles east of Banchory.
When: Garden and estate: all year, daily 9am to sunset. Castle: March 23 to October 31, daily 10.30am-4.45pm; November 1 to December 23, Saturday/Sunday, 10.30am-3.45pm. Please see NTS website for occasional variations.
Admission: Free for National Trust for Scotland members. Adults £12, Family £28.50, One Parent £22, Concession £8.50.
Getting there: Branklyn Garden is on Dundee Road in Perth.
When: March 23 to October 31, daily, 10am-5pm.
Admission: Free for National Trust for Scotland members. Adults £6.50, Family £16.50, One Parent £11.50, Concession £5.