Gardens – Page 10 – Fine for Friday

Fall 13 October 2023

Fall color is now dominating the landscape. Beautiful yellows, golds and reds are enhanced by the softer light of the fall sun. We had rain yesterday which was welcome.

There are no new blooming plants to show you but I have selected some plants that usually are in the background.

Let’s take a stroll and let me show you what I had in mind to show you.

The heuchera is doing very well in a container in my Shade Garden. It was a little slow to respond this spring but it is stepping out in the fall weather.

The Siebold’s fern is unusual and mysterious looking. It lurks near the back step which leads into the Shade Garden.

The Holly fern is a new addition. Its name suggests it is related to spiders. It doesn’t suggest that to me. I like the glossy finish and yellow spine of the leaves.

The brown eyed Susan has been a wonderful addition to the yard. It is drought tolerant and thrives in full sun and part shade. It is one of the few producing new blooms.

The dahlia is the same. It is still producing a few blooms and seems quite happy.

I found the ragweed in my yard and at first I did not recognize it. It grows well at the same time as golden rod. It is abundant this year and if you are a hay fever sufferer, it is a real aggravation. I was surprised when I researched it to find its misleading scientific name.

It was a treat to find these photos for you. I hope you enjoyed them.

If you like browsing gardens, come join us tomorrow as fellow gardeners post their photos online. It is called Six on Saturday. This can be found at this site which is hosted by Jim Stephens.

https://gardenruminations.co.uk/

Happy Gardening!!

Fall 6 Oct 2023

Yes, fall Colors continue to attract our attention. In many ways, fall is second only to Spring for floral attractiveness here in Central Alabama.

Take a stroll with me through the yard and let’s see what catches our eye.

Here are my six for this week. Come and enjoy the delights of the fall garden.

The Cashmere Bouquet plant has a very fetching bloom. Native to China, it is a tall plant with dark green foliage. It favors part shade. It can be thuggish but I have confined it to a woodland edge and not my perennial bed. I may eventually grow it in a container.

The Autumn fern is beginning to take on its bronze fall hue. I like this fern because it will tolerate a part sun location unlike other ferns here in the South. I have been able to adapt it to several locations both shade and part sun. In addition, it does quite well in a shallow container.

The dahlia patch is continuing to bloom. These are tall plants which I have had to stake. This is in a small rock garden set against an oak leaf hydrangea.

Late boneset is also known as Late Flowering Thoroughwort. It is a native here and is now quite noticeable along the easement near my yard. It is striking mixed among the emerging Goldenrod. The bees seem to love it.

The hearts a bursting is Euonymous americanus. It is also known as Strawberry plant. This native shrub does have these most unusual seed heads. This is the fourth season for this shrub in a shaded location with some afternoon sun.

The oak leaf hydrangea graces us with 4 season of attraction. Here in the fall we get to enjoy the reddening leaves and the coppery flower pannicles. It is in a part sun location along side a walkway into the backyard.

Six on Saturday is a group that shares gardening photos every week. It is hosted by Jim Stephens. Come join us to see gardens from all around the world. Perhaps you would also like to share your photos. Check out the requirements for posting. Here is the link. https://gardenruminations.co.uk

Happy gardening!

Fall is Here 29 Sept 2023

The thrill of the garden all summer has been the appearance of colorful flowers ever growing larger and brighter. The buzz of insects and the erratic flight of butterflies was the other most notable experience.

Now the summer colors are less vibrant. The sounds of insects are less noticeable. Different colors and hues are appearing.

The air is clear. The days are shortening and the calendar confirms it is now Fall. It is time to look for other features that signal this change.

Come lets stroll along the garden paths and glimpse the change for ourselves.

The goldenrod began to bloom this week. The tall waving stems of solidago are streaking the green with yellow stripes. The allergen laden ragweed must be closely.

The Brown eyed Susan began to bloom this month. The bright yellow is the main color of the garden.

The Holly Fern is beginning to have a tint of yellow.

I noticed this Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum sp) which is now much more evident as its neighbor’s become less gaudy.

The croton is beginning to take on its golden hue. You can still notice the silver underlay which flashes as the wind blows.

The dogwood is flashing red now and you can just see the appearance of the seed. Alas, this native small tree which is a stunning herald of the coming of spring with its abundant white blossoms is in danger of extinction. The primary cause is the dogwood blight.

Thanks for joining me on my stroll. The end of summer and its flashy color is being replaced by the quieter but welcome appearance of the subtler shades of fall.

Join us for SixonSaturday hosted by Jim Stephens. Link is here https://gardenruminations.co.uk

Happy gardening!

Fall 22 Sept 2023

The cool air this morning was so refreshing. I was able to work in the garden this morning without fatigue or perspiration.

There are fall blooming plants which are off to a good start and there are still some summer bloomers to enjoy. The pollinators have been very busy. The days continue to shorten of course but the sky is so blue because of the lower humidity.

So come for a garden stroll and see what delights we can find.

The spider lily (Lycoris radiate) is only visible in the fall. Once it blooms, the foliage persists for a short while and then it disappears again until next fall.

The Rudbeckia seems to be having a rejuvenation. This grouping are all blooms that are on new growth.

This encore azalea is a 3 time a year bloomer. This is its second blooming this year. The early spring blooming did not occur probably because of the damaging freeze we experienced last December.

The purple coneflower is definitely one of my favorites. It is a native and a reseeded so it thrives in many locations in the garden.

The lantana “Miss Huff” is definitely a pollinator magnet. There were several Gulf Fritillaries and several skippers on it when I was taking the photos.

This Stokes aster is in its first year. This is another native which has spread in the garden. I was able to capture the beautiful blue color in this photo.

Enjoy the fall. I hope you will be able to join us tomorrow for our gardening get together “Six on Saturday” hosted by Jim Stephens. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Until next week, Happy Gardening!

The Hint of Fall Continues 15 Sept 2023

The signs are definitely increasing. The leaves have begun to change color and more and more are falling. The temperatures continue to moderate. All the plants seem a little “thinner” somehow.

The fall tasks seem more urgent now. It is time to prune the perennials which was begun today. The compost bin is beginning to fill with items other than grass clippings.

The fall bloomers are becoming more showy and there are buds on the camellias that are swelling.

It has been dry here the last two weeks but a heavy shower is fall in the afternoon as I put this blog together.

So come, lets take a walk in the garden. Don’t mind the rain! It will stop soon. We can shelter under the tree canopy if we are getting too wet.

These plants are definitely in fall mode. The oak leaf hydrangeas are showing the bronze coloration of the panicles. The Rudbeckia after a glorious summer bloom are living up to their name of “Autumn Gold”.

The dianthus are in containers. They have come out of their summer lull and the blooms are increasing.

The dayflower appeared in the yard without an introduction. The blue color attracted my attention and I found with my Seek app that it was a perennial native. I was very pleased to welcome it.

The inland wood oats are a shade tolerant plant which is unusual for grasses. The seed heads are becoming a golden color now. They are very attractive.

The encore azaleas are blooming for the second time now. I apologize for the blur since you cannot appreciate the delicate stamens. This plant is finally coming around from last winter’s bitter cold spell. I am glad to see that.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. Come join us as Jim Stephens hosts us. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Happy Gardening!!

English Garden 8 September 2023

Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba

The English Garden in Assiniboine Park was in full bloom when my wife and I visited there on our trip to Winnipeg. The day was gorgeous with warm, sunny weather.

The interesting feature to me was that many plants were the same genus seen in our region in Alabama but of course with different species. Birmingham, Alabama is in Hardiness Zone 8a and Winnipeg is Hardiness Zone 3.

So come walk with us as we stroll through the garden.

The perennials were outstanding.

The castor bean plant is a source of ricin well known as a near toxin. In front of it were four o’clocks.

The dahlias were truly outstanding.

The catalpa has a species in the South known for the worm that feasts upon it. Those worms are prized for fishing.

The ostrich fern is known for the central seed stalk known as a gametophore.

The bright red geraniums were a welcome site at the windiest corner in the world.

The statue of the Lady in the Park was a special honor to those who enjoy the tranquil space of the park.

I hope you take the time to enjoy this treasure.

Hints of Autumn 8 Sept 2023

The temperatures are forecast for to be a little cooler this week. The days are measurably shorter. The rainfall has declined. These are features to be expected in Alabama this time of year.

It is time to begin some fall chores and think of some spring planning. There are spent plants to remove and some leaves to rake. The dry conditions mean some watering needs to be done.

I have returned from a trip to Canada for a 50 year med school reunion and a visit with family. It was wonderful to reconnect. Time to re-engage with the garden.

So come join me for a little tour of what’s in the garden today. It feels a little cooler. We can sit in the shade if you like and visit as we talk about several of the individual plants. Here are the photos of the week:

The limelight hydrangeas continue to impress with their beautiful panicles of blooms. The bloom color is mostly white but shades of copper are appearing which is striking against the lime green leaves.

The American beauty berry (Callicarpa Americana) has been a reliable garden feature this year. It is now giving that extra show with the purple berries. I have not seen any birds feasting on these yet.

The chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are putting on quite a show. I will be watching them closely and intend to chop the tops off before the seeds spread. That will save a lot of work later.

The sedum is definitely beginning to show its fall bronze.

The obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) is quite happy in its location near the fountain. Its royal color blends nicely with the remaining yellows of the Black eyed Susans

The gardenia is slowly recovering this year from the historic cold of last December. I am optimistic. It has a good chance to thrive and become its majestic fragrant self in the years to come.

I will be joining the #SixonSaturday group tomorrow. If you have the chance, swing by and look at around the world gardeners sharing their photos. It can be found at this link, https://gardenruminations.co.uk hosted by Jim Stephens each Saturday morning.

Happy Gardening!!

Its Labor Day Weekend

I am out of town this week but I took the liberty of taking some photos last week. It has cooled down a little. It is feeling more like fall. It seems that summer has hurried by but that may only been another illusion of mine.

We have had an irrigation problem at the Corner Garden. I will show you a photo that I took illustrating the source.

Come take a stroll with me through the garden. We can sit in the shade whenever you like. I might even be able to provide you with a glass of “sweet tea”. It will be refreshing. If you are able, come join us Saturday morning when Jim Stephens hosts us at this website https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. This will allow you to join the Six on Saturday crowd as we tour gardens throughout the world.

The Stokesia is blooming again. It is feeling the cooler temps that are approaching.

The Blackberry lily continues to produce some beautiful blooms.

The crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp) is blooming madly. Less prolific this year but still awe inspiring.

The Gomphrena “strawberry fields” has been outstanding this year.

The Encore Azalea (this one may be “Autumn Royalty” is nicely blooming. This variety has 3 blooming periods a year although this has been this year’s first blooming.

The Limelight hydrangea is in its first year and has been blooming for 3 months now. This cultivar is “Bobo”

I mentioned an irrigation issue and here it is. This is at the Corner Garden and we will need some professional help here. Keep you posted.

Happy Gardening everyone!!

Fall Approaches 19 August 2023

The days are still hot but the plants are showing signs of fatigue. Most of the blooms are spent and the seedheads are prominent everywhere. Some plants have gone through the yellowing phase and now are approaching the brown phase.

There has been a lack of rain this past week so I have had to do some watering. As you will see, I have run into a problem with the irrigation system that I hope to be able to have fixed soon.

The Ginger Lily is just beginning to show signs of blooming. It is beautiful. It was a gift from another gardener but I do not know the cultivar.

The dahlia is magnificent and is nicely standing out against the rudbeckia in the background.

The Hardy Hibiscus has given some late blooms. It struggled this spring so I am really proud of this one.

The Purple Heart is related to the spiderwort which is a native with blue flowers. This variety spreads easily with a low ground cover like habit. Pink flowers are very striking against the purple stems.

The Obedient Plant is a fall blooming native which is just beginning to bloom. It is also known as false dragonhead of the mint family. It is easy to grow as it is a self seeder.

Picture number 6 is an unexpected problem. I am now trying to get this irrigation leak sorted out. I will let you know next week.

The weather should cool some over the next few weeks and I hope to show you fall bloomers as well as leaf color.

Join us on #SixonSaturday with our host Jim Stephens. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk/.

Until next week, happy gardening!!

Fall Approaches 11 August 2023

The recent rains and continuing warm temperatures have allowed the garden to keep blossoming. It is lush and full of blooms. Keeping up with the weeds is another story.

Seedheads are becoming more abundant which the birds especially a group of goldfinches seem to be very happy about.

The black-eyed susans are definitely the showstopper again this week. These are a new addition from a local nursery. I misplaced the cultivar name.

The oak leaf Hydrangea quercifolia is beginning to show the bronze coloring of the fall foliage.

The limelight hydrangeas have been magnificent this year. The American beautyberry is just visible to the left. They are fronted by bearded iris and roof iris. The bluebird house was occupied twice this year.

The hardy mums are beginning to bloom. The cultivar is again an unknown.

The lorapetalum had been a 12 foot shrub but it was decimated by the December freeze. The new growth seems healthy so the trunks were cut back to two feet.

This is the other Rudbeckia which has done so well. The “Indian Summer” did suffer from the winter cold and several plants were lost but those which survived have been so beautiful.

Hope to have you join us on Saturday morning for our Six on Saturday group. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk/

Happy Gardening!