Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Around The Garden

We haven't been around the garden in a while so I thought before there is nothing to show, I would take a stroll.

The alley garden is a work in progress.  I have learned that when anything is planted against a structure it tends to lean forward and needs to be supported to look its best.  The grasses were ringed this year along with the Centranthus.  I will be doing the same with the agastache next spring.  If nepeta Walker's Low is cut back after blooming it will rebloom in the fall.

Eupatorium Chocolate is a welcome sight in the fall, used to cover a utility in this case.  The leaves are a dark burgundy all summer but then turn lighter when flowering, wishds they stayed dark!

Clematis Barbara Jackman planted by the back gate is new and putting out its first bloom.

Who knew cabbages could be so pretty in the hayracks on the shed.

In the planters by the garage

Home Run Rose is developing hips and is supposed to keep flowering unlike other roses.

Pansies are so great in the fall and will survive through a frost.  In the colder areas they must be purchased in a larger size or you will not get much flowering before they freeze.

I love the mahogany color but they do not name this pansy and put them in baskets with multiple colors.

I noticed I had a ruffled one in the hayracks, again no name because it was included in a basket mix.

You can see in this photo why it is called Knockout Rainbow.  The colors change as it first blooms in a darker peach, then pink and finally into a very pale pink.

The geranium is a common summer annual and many seasoned gardeners tend to avoid it.  However, it is a plant that goes lightly into the fall continuing to bloom and withstanding light frosts.

Ninebark Summer Wine a little sad looking in its Proven Winners pot from Home Depot, the only one I could find.  I am adding this to the other three that I have along the north side front garden.  I have decided not to clip it back at this time or I will lose any flower buds that it might have.

This is one of my previously planted Ninebark Summer Wine clipped a few times before August 1, for shaping.

I have moved Amsonia Northwind Select to this area.  They look pretty meager right now, hope they fill out next year.  I am going to have some bluestone moved to go around the Magnolia in this area so I can't plant too much at this point until I see what I have available.

Now the Gerber Daisy decides to bloom!  Even though it is a striking flower I will not grow this again.

Heuchera Autumn Leaves, don't they all begin to look alike?  I have put these on the north side front behind the Amsonia.

29 comments:

Jenny said...

Most of my flowers are gone and yours are starting all over. No winter break for you I think! Beautiful and I love the blue header. xo Jenny

Diana LaMarre said...

I am amazed how beautiful everything still is in your garden.

I love Gerberas, but they take so long to rebloom, that I rarely plant them. This year I bought baskets with them on top and only had a sparse bloom in all four baskets.

I wish I could find amsonia in my area. I admire it in all the online gardens, but have never seen it for sale here.

Darla said...

Your gardens still look good. I wish someone would teach me how to grow geramniums successfully. Don't give up on the Gerbera, they just love spring and fall. Mine just sit there in the heat of the summer.

Dave@TheHomeGarden said...

Sure looks like you had something to show! I grew Chocolate Eupatorium a while back but it didn't come back for a third season. I liked it but haven't seen any to replace it with lately.

joey said...

Very impressed, Eileen! Still a lot of color and love your pansy header.

Lona said...

Your pansies are so bright and colorful Eileen. Just love the green and white cabbage. What a pretty picture. Your garden is looking wonderful still. Wish the weather would last all winter. LOL!

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

Eileen your fall planting mix is lovely. I'm not a big fan of outdoor Gerberas and they need lifted here for the winter.

Ammonia has the most lovely of textures but I don't think it would survive the winter here. I've hardly anything in flower as I didn't buy autumn bedding this year - snow is forecast for us next week!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jenny,

With the first hard frost they will be gone and then the snow will come!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Zoey, I know those daisies are expensive and don't do much for me.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Darla,

Geraniums usually do pretty well here but our recent summers have been difficult for them. They like warm but not consistent high heat. They need deadheading and fertilizer.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Dave,

I had a Eupatorium that did not come back also so I replaced it. But, maybe they are short lived.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Joey,

I am thinking I like the pansies almost more than the mums. They last longer.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

Our weather has been warm for the past two weeks. I love the pansies this time of year almost more than in the spring.

Eileen

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl your garden(s) are looking fantastic and I also love the look of the flowering Kale .. they really are so darn pretty I don't know why more gardeners don't use them ? The grasses tend to need support so yes I "hoop" mine and some of the bigger ferns I have like Lady-in-Red can be hooped and look nice .. have you started a list for 2012 yet ? LOL
Joy : )

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Rosie,

Amsonia is hardy in our area, zone 5 (which can go to 20 below zero) and even in colder areas. The one I have was actually developed in Wisconsin which is colder than my area. I can't believe you are getting snow already!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joy,

Again, I am on a mission to make my garden multi-seasonal. It is like a jigsaw puzzle because I do not have a lot of room. I pulled out the wintercreeper on the north side and am in the process of redoing this area.

PS Found another Brunnera Looking Glass at 50 percent off.

Eileen

Reading Tea Leaves said...

You still have so much interest in your garden Eileen. It must be due to the lovely warm temps you are enjoying over there at the moment.

Love those cabbages!

Jeanne
x

Gardentina said...

I like your nepeta. It's a plant that I intend to add to my garden next year.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jeanne,

It is going to get colder this weekend and there is lots to do in the garden. I was hoping it would be warm enough to do some outside painting.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Gardentine,

Thanks for visiting. Nepeta has to be cut back if you want it to look good all season.

Eileen

Balisha said...

Your gardens are lovely year round.You always have such beautiful photos to share.Just wanted to tell you that I learn more from your posts than any others that I read.
Balisha

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Balisha for your nice comments. I am slowly dismantling the garden. I can never believe how big things get by fall!

Eileen

GRACE PETERSON said...

Your garden still looks amazing, Eileen. I have a Geranium [Pelargonum] but the dang bud worms have eaten all the buds. The foliage still looks great though so I'm thinking eventually it will be allowed to bloom again. Love your Ninebarks.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, I just love all your happy faced pansies! We step forward each day into fall. November is my least favourite month and I am not looking forward to the darker days as winter approaches.
It is great to stroll through the garden as you have done in this post and make mental notes about what to plant next year, what has worked and what has not. I love that cabbage with the white center and your picture of it. My roses like your Rainbow Knockout continue to bloom. Enjoy the weekend. Sadly, rain is forecast here!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Hi, Eileen - it was great meeting you at Midwest Groundcovers the other day. You had a question about the plant in my Wordless Wednesday post. It's Anemone x hybrida 'Andrea Atkinson'. The Japanese anemones are great plants, but they can be rather thuggish.
In response to your rhetorical question about cabbages, I knew! I love cabbages, both edible & ornamental. Yours are just beautiful. I never thought about losing buds when whacking back my Physocarpus. I have Diablo, & I cut it back severely every spring. Maybe I need to be doing that in the summer instead.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Grace,

So far the Ninebarks have not disappointed me, so many shades of color through the growing season. They are the darkest during the fall. My geranium looks better each day, maybe I will grow a few more next year.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer,

It has really turned cool and very windy here, lots of swirling leaves. I moved a few plants today and need to change a few more tomorrow. I have always liked fall for being able to change my mind.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi MMD,

Thanks for the name of the anemone. I had a pink and white in my last home and they can be somewhat invasive unless I keep after them, but I am going to try them again. This new Summer Wine Ninebark can be trimmed several times for shaping but not after August 1st if you want flowers in June.

Eileen

scottweberpdx said...

beautiful post...I feel your pain about the plants leaning away from structures! I have to say, however, you did a great job with the staking...it's not at all noticeable!