Around The Garden

We are definitely back to a more normal springtime, cool nights even frost warnings and daytime temperatures in the fifties.  I covered my clematis which is just about ready to break into full bloom.

Clematis Bourbon

This is a smaller clematis, about six feet, perfect for a teuter.  It is covered right now with a black plastic bag because of a possible frost.  Clematis do very well if the flower is closed up tight but these are open and will be more susceptible.

This is Azalea Karen with daffodil Thalia coming up in the middle.  I have another one next to it that is at least a week behind, has buds but just beginning to bloom.  This is a mystery to me right now!

Allium Purple Sensation

Variegated Solomon's Seal

Dicentra Eximia

I have cut away some of the Solomon's Seal so that this small plant which blooms all summer has some exposure.  Don't hesitate to trim out plants that overshadow others.

The pansies will take the light frost but it seems just as they are doing great it is time to pull them out and plant the summer containers!

Around The Garden

Finally, there is something to show in the garden!  I spent part of a day staining the back arbor, not finished yet, but I thought I had better get going before the clematis began climbing.  It had begun to weather after a few years and definitely needed the stain this year.  I use a semi-permanent Sherwin Williams Oil Base Deckscape stain because it holds up better on those flat horizontal areas that face the sun.

Doesn't look too bad, but there are some weathered areas.  I don't mind weathered, my fence is weathered, but I want some contrast in my garden.

Daffodil Ice Follies

Tulip Red Emperor

Most tulips are annuals in zone 5, but if not grabbed by the squirrels, the Emperors have a good chance of coming back, third year for these.

The Star Magnolia

Forsythia Greenstem

I put this in last fall, will grow three feet tall and three feet wide.

Daffodil Itzim and Tete-A-Tete
They are mostly Itzim, very similar but Itzim lasts longer.

Daffodil Marieke and Mount Hood

Hyacinth Delft Blue

This hyacinth has not split apart into florets like many do.  It gets plenty of moisture and sun.

Hyacinth City of Harlem

I am actually glad that this long border grouping of hyacinths split into florets, look less like soldiers.  They are growing in a drier full sun area.

Daffodil Fortissimo

Daffodil Sagitta

These were the pre-potted hyacinths that many of the big box stores and nurseries display.  After they were done blooming last year in my containers, I planted them in the border.  They are a little smaller than they were originally.

The Alley Garden

This is the last area I wanted to show you today, bedded in river rock, slower to start but it is beginning.

Around The Garden

I don't think I ever realized I still had a garden at this time of year, but I do!  It is not the riot of color that I have in the spring and summer, but it is a relaxing blend of fall hues with a pop of color here and there.  I think it actually helps us transition without a shock to the lack of growth many of us experience during the winter.

This is Geranium Magnificum.  Many of the perennial geraniums turn red in the fall.

Italian Parsley is one of the few things left in the veggie garden.  It will live through everything but a very deep frost.  Some people cover them with bushel baskets and say they live all through the winter.  I might try this because I love fresh parsley.

I do prefer Curly Parsley on Parslied Potatoes.

I have chives still left and some small onion sets from the seed that are alive and will live through the winter to become strong first onions in the spring.

Henryi, goodbye already, I can't believe you are still putting out blooms on the back arbor!

Pansies in the shed hayracks

Great color, never have seen this sold separately, just in mixed containers

I did a little Terry Evans experiment, holding the camera at my waist for this shot of my daylilies.  I think it works, I have a new perspective of dying leaves.

This is Panicum Northwind, don't think I have ever noticed the little seed heads, but I got so close with the camera I couldn't help but notice.

I will definitely use some of the Limelight Hydrangeas in my holiday decorating.

Sweet Woodruff, extra thick and green this year

Miscanthus Udine, Oh how I hate to cut this down, but it will flop in the snow and be very difficult to handle in the spring.

Halcyon Hosta and PJM Rhododendron, another Terry Evans technique photo from the waist looking down.

A last look at the fully opened cabbages and the totally blooming pansies and kale.  I will be pulling them out while it is still somewhat warm so that the soil doesn't freeze and make it impossible to put in my holiday greens.

I have never had Lobelia last this long into the fall but it is still blooming in with the cabbages.

I don't know what we would do without all of the colorful fall plants.  I have appreciated the cabbages more than ever this year with their slow opening as the weather changes, only sorry I can't keep them longer, because they must make room for the greens of winter.

Okay Rainbow, goodbye already!

Have a wonderful fall weekend everyone!

Around The Garden

I didn't think I would be doing this in November, but as I moved around the garden, there were quite a few plants that were either still blooming or had put on their fall colors.  Before blogging,, I don't think I appreciated these subtle changes in nature.

The alley garden looks really good this fall, filling out and developing fall color enhanced by the leaves that pile up against it.

Eupatorium Chocolate is at it's peak.  It really likes the cooler weather!

Sedum Autumn Fire is in the alley garden.  It is not quite as showy as Autumn Joy but it remains erect all winter.

Miscanthus Udine has already begun to flop.  I have learned the hard way to cut this down before the snow hits.  It is almost impossible to cut it down after it is smashed into the raised bed.  I know, it looks so good!

Panicum Northwind will stand through the winter, usually ready to cut down by March.  I love the tan color against the snow.

It is difficult to believe that Pink Beauty is still putting out a rose every so often and an almost perfect rose.

Can you believe this Rainbow Knockout?  It is a difficult rose to find, and all of the ones I have growing are from http://www.gardenvalley.com/  Their roses are bare root and have never had a problem rooting and taking off the first year.  In fact, I have just placed an order with them to ship the first of April.  Home Depot had a small shipment of Rainbow this year but quickly sold out.  They are not promoted by the nurseries because they don't look eye-popping in their containers.  However, they are the only rose blooming profusely in my garden.

This is Ernest Markham blooming on the south side of my home.  I planted it this spring, didn't do much in the hot summer, and now decides to put on a show.  It is a Type 3, so I will cut it down in the spring and give it a bigger trellis.  It is supposed to be a very floriforous hardy clematis.

Henryi has put out one more huge bloom, can't believe it has any more.  This is the Type 2 clematis that I cut to the ground so that it would rejuvenate.  It certainly looks like it has.

White Swan is my only coneflower that is still blooming.  Why didn't I plant more White Swan?  This deserves to be interspersed throughout my garden.

If you can stand to look at your allysum all winter it will reward you over and over again.  In the spring, just pull it out and sprinkle it wherever you want allysum.   It reseeds very easily.

Wow, was this a lucky choice this year, Heuchera Southern Comfort, a real star in the fall garden.

Heuchera Southern Comfort in another location, love, those great fall colors!

 

Penstemon Hamlin (not to be cut down until spring)

Rose hips from Pink Meidiland, also difficult to find, but I have ordered one more from Garden Valley Ranch.

 

Little Henry's Garnet Sweetspire looks better than ever this fall.  It has never been as healthy and colorful.  I did use a systemic this spring, and it seems to have done the trick.  I was ready to replace it.

Limelight Hydrangea will have plenty to show off this winter.  I have never left so many flowers on the shrub, but I will use some for the holidays,, maybe even spray some for my indoor displays.

I hate to end this on a downer, but this is my yellowing yew.  It was a very large one that I have trimmed, turned off the water that sprays on it, worked in peat moss way down fed it and we'll just wait and see until spring.  It will look great when we get the Christmas lights on it!