Cheering reds

DURING the bleak months of autumn and winter, when skies are grey, a splash of red in the garden lifts the spirits. Blazing-scarlet foliage brightens the scene on overcast days; and in snow and frost, vivid-red bark and stems add drama and beauty.

For most gardeners, bright-red fruit is usually the top choice, since it injects colour and attracts birds at the same time. Rose hips, crab apples, and the berries of cotoneaster, firethorn and holly will all provide birds (such as thrushes, waxwings and blackbirds) with a rich supply of nutrients.

Leaves that blush crimson when the seasons change prevent the garden from) compete for the most brilliant scarlet foliage. And the magnificent stems of dogwood ‘Sibirica’ glow sealing-wax red in the barren depths of winter.