IF you visit Kew Gardens at this time of year, you can see one of the most beautiful trees in the collection in all its autumnal glory. Enter via Victoria Gate (the one nearest the tube station), turn left down the main path in front of you and there, about twenty yards down, on the right, all on its own, stands a magnificent Cotinus Oblovatus or Chittamwood tree (or American Smoketree, if you prefer).
If you can see a Greek temple sort of affair on a little hill about 25 yards away, with a less spectacular version of the same tree on the other side, you’re in the right place. Besides, there’s bound to be someone taking a photograph of it: today it was me.
It’s a pleasant enough deciduous tree during spring and summer, but around the end of September, starting at the top, where it gets the most sun, its bluey-green leaves start to change until they end up, around now - and for the next couple of weeks - a magnificent, deep, dark, glowing, purply red.
Just how lushly red it turns differs each year – I remember once, about six or seven years ago, actually gasping when I caught sight of it in the distance, approaching from the other side (the best place to view it): it looked unreal, part of a film set. It was pretty damned impressive last year as well. This year it is averagely gorgeous.
As for the rest of the gardens, the main autumnal colours are (as you’d expect!) gold, yellow and muted russet. Today, in blazing sunlight, under a chilly, cloudless, blue sky, the effects were stunningly lovely.
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