November Garden Report 2026

By Thea Hegland, Plant I.D. Supervisor

November is here with all the gorgeous autumn hues surrounding us. Hardy fuchsia shrubs are a standout, with delicate blossoms dangling like dancing ballerinas. Hydrangea flowers are aging like fine wine as the season changes, evolving from fresh summer flowers into autumn flowers with a great display of burgundy, rose and chardonnay notes of colour.

Fuchsia spp. with elongated, tubular flowers featuring a pink outer layer and dark purple inner petals, hanging from slender green stems with small, oval leaves — Fuchsia

A cluster of white and pink flowers, likely from the genus Hydrangea, surrounded by green leaves. In the background, additional clusters of pink flowers are visible, creating a vibrant display — Fuchsia

After another fantastic year, The Dahlia Border had a final hurrah before being removed for the season. This is an enormous undertaking for our gardening staff. First, the dahlias are all cut down before the tubers are carefully dug out, sorted, organized and brought in for the winter to be stored in a cool, dry area. This is a good process to practice for home gardeners, too. Leaving the tubers in the ground through the winter poses a risk of decay and various fungi, ultimately leading to rot. Sometimes you may get lucky if the tubers are left in the ground where they are not subject to wet conditions during the winter, but I recommend taking the effort to dig them up as it not only protects the beloved plant, but it also provides a fantastic opportunity to divide the treasure!

Throughout the grounds, there is a constant hum of workers bustling between the drifts of fallen leaves, planting thousands of spring bulbs and biennials, pruning and raking as they lay the garden to rest for winter. One of the main tasks gardeners do at this time of year is vital to next season’s success.

A group of people in work attire is harvesting crops in a garden. They are bent over rows of green plants, with a truck visible in the background. Tall, trellised plants with climbing vines are positioned along the sides of the garden. The scene is set in a lush, green environment with trees and foliage in the background

Starting in October, we began defoliating all the rose leaves to ensure that our roses are strong and healthy next year. A tedious task albeit imperative to the health of the roses as it helps with various diseases that roses are prone too. Once the leaves have all been removed, the final pruning can be done, followed by a protective layer of mulch around the base of the roses. It is not just the hybrid tea and floribunda roses – the climbers also need to be untied, defoliated and pruned as well. Absolutely essential to ensure that The Gardens’ award winning rose garden remains healthy and beautiful.

A landscaped garden featuring a circular hedge with a reflective metal sphere at its center. Surrounding the hedge are various plants, including rose bushes with visible blooms. In the background, a house is partially obscured by trees and foliage, with morning light illuminating the scene

One of my favourites at this time of the year is the wildly growing Cotinus coggygria located on the main path before the Sunken Garden. Commonly known as smoke bush, it illuminates with a blazing hue of burgundy red to a brilliance of fiery orange.