Tree collections are interesting to visit at any time of year, but especially at the end of October, when autumn colour is at its peak, with a sufficient carpet of multicoloured damp leaves underfoot, but before wind and frost have stripped the branches. This is the time to appraise long-wished-for beauties, especially among the big shrubs, such as the Japanese maples, for their seasonal beauty, not least as backdrops. Each year, the range and intensity are different, depending on the preceding summer conditions, but this is a fleeting annual feast that should be celebrated. It will soon be gone.

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