Tuesday, October 09, 2012

I'm A Believer

If the date wouldn't convince me this past weekend certainly did the trick.  Previous to this I think I thought that this was the summer that would never end.



Now I feel I must hurry up to get everything done, frost has nipped most of the tender annuals and pulling out will take almost as much time as planting.

Indian Summer Coleus (holds up well to a light frost) with Bedazzled Bronze Mum

 
I think this is the time of year that we need to notice which annuals and perennials go slowly into the fall season.  I have other coleus that have definitely been nipped, turning brown and will need to be pulled.
 
PJM (Elite Variety)
The wonderful attribute of this variety is that the leaves turn red in the fall and then revert to a rusty brown for the winter.  Note that mine is sending out very small flowers after this unusual summer.
 
Azalea Karen
This is an evergreen azalea and stays a beautiful warm brown color all winter.
 
Ninebark Summer Wine
It is in it's darkest color right now, almost a black/brown in the garden.
 
It looks so good with Gerald Darby Iris.
 
North Side Front
This is the area I put in last spring after removing the Euyonmous Wintercreeper.  Amsonia Northwind Select is slow glowing and will need some pruning next spring to keep it compact.  The Pennestium Piglet is a wonderful addition.
 
Pennestium Piglet
What a surprise this one was, much more feathery and showy than the other Pennestiums.
 
 
 
This is my designer pumpkin and so far it is still intact.  I think it has been tested by the squirrels but so far they can't get through it!
 
Miscanthus Little Kitten is a late blooming grass and I am so glad to see that its plumes are opening.
This is not a "little" grass, at least three feet tall and over three feet wide. 
 
This is the front area looking through Miscanthus Little Kitten.  I love it this time of year but it does need more room than what they say in the catalogs.
 
I was not thrilled with the Alley Garden this year as many of the plants flopped, even with supports, and learned that a lack of water will cause this to happen.  I have since put in a water drip hose system and will prune plants in the spring to spread rather than grow tall.  We will see if this is a remedy or a sign to replant something more adaptable like all sedums.
 
Panicum Shenandoah is spaced throughout my back garden hopefully to give a four season effect rather than seeing just the sticks of the rose bushes.  Shenandoah is usually more reddish this time of year, but I am afraid that I do not get the right amount of sun to give me this effect.
 
Phlox Franz Schubert
I do not want to constantly talk about this phlox, but it is still around and wanting to re-flower, what could be better?
 
I have many varieties of phlox but there are only a few that would still be performing in October!
 
Phlox Blue Paradise is the other one that is a consistent performer in my garden, with deadheading goes into the cooler weather of fall.
 
Bob's Blunder has become one of my favorite geraniums because it is a non intrusive plant just working through whatever is there.  Notice the muscari just coming up through wherever!  It also has two sets of leaves, larger and darker on top.
 
Heuchera Autumn Leaves
 
Heuchera Southern Comfort
Just beginning to develop its wonderful reddish colors
 
 
 
 



14 comments:

GRACE PETERSON said...

I'm a believer too. Your fall colors are outstanding. I love how everything bows out gracefully in your garden. Even that tender Coleus looks great despite Jack's nip. I need to move my Nine Bark. It just fries where I have it located now. Yours is so gorgeous.

Diana LaMarre said...

I have Shenandoah on my want list. It’s good to know that I must plant it in a pretty sunny spot to get the color.

I like the size of Little Kitten. 3 ft. x 3 ft. would be perfect in my rockwall garden. Does it also need a lot of sun?

I hope you don't get this comment multiple times. I got an error message that said to delete my cache, so I did that and then came back.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Grace,

My Ninebark is facing east and therefore does not get that strong west sun. I have a friend who has Ninebark on the south side of his home facing west and they do fine.

I wonder if it is the variety? This weekend is a big pullout activity.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

My Shenadoah is on the south side but is shaded by my neighbor's large lilac. I think it could stand some more sun but it looks fine and will add some interest in the winter.

I am really liking Little Kitten even though it is bigger than a lot of the websites say. It sure adds to the fall garden. They suggest leaving it up over the winter.

Eileen

Beth said...

Your first photo is so beautiful. Your mums are glorious and I enjoyed seeing your grasses and phlox. Looks like fall has arrived in IL - here too; we've had two freezes and another is expected tonight.

Larry said...

Does 'Little Kitten' seed about? Great post... guess what... we finally got a half inch of rain with the possibility of an inch on Saturday... could this be the end of our drought?! I don't even have my bulbs ordered yet... so much to do and it feels like time is short... Larry

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Larry,

I know some Miscanthus are invasive in certain areas. This one has been in three years and no wayward plants. It is a late grass so you can have other things blooming around it all summer. I like the idea that it can stand all winter.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Beth,

We haven't really had a hard frost yet but cold enough to get the coleus and impatiens.

Eileen

Rachel @ CheapSheds NZ LTD said...

Wow! I really love the share. Those wonderful plants have a lovely shade. I am glad to see such wonderful and pretty garden.

Lynn said...

The colors in that first photo are gorgeous. Your garden has such a nice arrangement of color and textures. A few of my sedums have gotten floppy too. I guess I need to prune them down in the spring too.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl .. I should have been planting bulbs today but didn't get to it .. I swear the next sunny day it is going to be done !! LOL
I also love my azaleas for the beautiful fiery colours they turn this time of year .. we just had our first frost from last night ..
Indian Summer coleus was one of my favorites from my last years combos.
I love your designer pumpkin ! I forget to take pictures of mine .. they are so shiny they look false after I rubbed them with Vaseline .. too funny ! Piglet has me besotted .. I have to see if I can get it for next year .. it is so sweet!
Joy : )

myfrenchkitchen said...

The images of your garden are beautiful, as ever. Isn't Phlox just a rock in the garden? And that lovely autumn leaves...autumn was made for artists...with all those colours..
Ronelle

MrBrownThumb said...

You have an impressive collection of plants that really show off the colors of fall. I should really make a plant list from your garden blog that I can copy because it looks great no matter what season you post about.

Jennifer said...

I think that I should start off by commenting on the header. What a nice little seasonal arrangement Eileen! I like those twig balls mixed in there. I saw some similar ones in the grocery store, and now, I may just have to go back for them.
With the shrubs like your azalea and Ninebark there are nice accents of dark burgundy foliage in your garden. You also have some very nice grasses in your collection of plants. I am impressed with your phlox. Mine had packed it in...sigh!