Sunday, September 16, 2012

Around The Garden

It is late in the season and approaching the beginning of fall with much cooler weather this week.  I have several plants that have not done well in the heat and I don't want to dwell on them with photos.  Most I will give another year to see how they adapt next summer.

Phlox Franz Schubert
Phlox in general can take the heat but this one is my best when deadheaded right up there with Blue Paradise.
 
Phlox Eva Cullum
This is a tall late bloomer but it surprised me this year with no mildew and more reblooming than I remember.
 
Plumbago (Ceratostigma Plumbaginoides)
This is an underused ground cover, comes up late in the spring, fall blooming and the leaves turn a bright red.
 
It is wonderful for color after the daylilies are done.  Arnie's Choice Daylily has been cut down after blooming and produces fresh green foliage to compliment the Plumbago.
 
Panicum Ruby Ribbons In Front of Pennestium Hamelin
 
Ninebark Summer Wine
It is even darker now than the photo shows and picks up the color of the Ruby Ribbons on the other side of the front garden.
 
Heuchera Southern Comfort
This heuchera was one of the best this summer, some dried leaves were easily pulled off to make way for new growth.  It is in the golden stage now changing to many ranges of orange and red.  This one keeps its foliage all winter!
 
Heuchera Peach Flambe
This heuchera didn't even blink in the high heat, no leaf loss and it takes full sun.  I have it planted on the north side along the path so it is probably darker than it would be in full sun.
 
Heuchera Autumn Leaves
This one is a keeper, some dried leaves in the heat but bounces back quickly with some extra water.
 
Heuchera Carmel
It looks a little sickly now but is beginning to recover from bleaching out, very little leaf drying.
 
The Heucherellas do very well in the heat with no leaf dieback on any of the ones I grow, i.e., Stoplight, Sweet Tea, Golden Zebra, Redstone Falls and Solar Eclipse.
 
Heucherella Golden Zebra
 
Heucherella Solar Eclipse
 
Many of the Heucheras and Heucherellas begin to look alike but they all have their own unique characteristics.  Some will take full sun and others prefer part shade, some are prone to insect damage and others are not susceptible.
 
Autumn Clematis blooms on the pergola so it's real beauty is appreciated from my bedroom window!
 
Ramona keeps on blooming.  I may cut down more of my Type II's and III's next year to see if I can get them to rebloom like this one.
 
Cimicifuga Atropurpurea
I like it even before it blooms.
 
Miscanthus Udine
This one has a pinkish plume when it opens up.
 
I bought one of those designer pumpkins this year to outfox the squirrels.  They are harder and lumpy, we'll see!