Monday, November 14, 2011

containing winter


"Every season hath its pleasures;
Spring may boast her flowery prime,
Yet the vineyard's ruby treasures
Brighten Autumn's soberer time."
--Thomas Moore, Spring and Autumn


(bold mustard leaves make a statement in the above container planting;
with coral bells, pansies, fern, and acorus)

Just last week I picked the final green tomatoes and jalapenos from the garden, just before the first frost. Despite this later than usual frost, there are still petunias blooming with mums and pansies on the front porch. The parsley and cilantro are still growing strong, and the lettuce has re-seeded itself.

Most garden centers are now discounting winter annuals and bulbs and I recently picked up some orange violas and ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss Chard for my blue glazed planter. Accompanied by the changing yellow-orange leaves of the Spirea, it is a striking combination. I’ve also included spring-blooming Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) bulbs in my containers this year.

The conventional “thriller, filler, spiller” ideal in container gardening for year-round enjoyment can be simple to achieve. I suggest the following fool-proof recipe as a perennial backbone to which annuals can be added:

  1. Thriller: Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) and or Sweetflag (Acorus)
  2. Filler: Coral bells (Heuchera)
  3. Spiller: Sedum and/or Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia)

With appropriate moisture, this combination can work well in the shade, partial shade, and sun. This provides an evergreen and tardily deciduous framework to which you can add coleus, sweet potato vine, petunias, pansies, vincas, or violas depending on the season, size, and exposure. Best effect is achieved with 3-5 different plants. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Top 10 Plants For Fall Color


"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."

--Albert Camus





Blue star (Amsonia hubrichtii) yellow
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensiblis) yellow
Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia) yellow
Fothergilla (Fothergilla major) yellow-orange-red
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) orange-red
Maple (Acer rubrum & A. saccharum) yellow-orange-red
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculua parviflora) yellow-red
American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus) yellow-orange-red
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) yellow
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) yellow-orange-red

This past week was the peak of fall color in my part of the world and I had the pleasure of attending a wedding that wholly embraced the spirit of autumn. By no means is this an all-encompassing list for fall color, but the perennials, shrubs, and trees above are show-stoppers.

In many respects this time of year is the most colorful; and it’s the best time of year to add new plants to the garden. Be sure to keep newly transplanted plants well-watered as it also tends to be the driest time of year in the south with little rain and windy conditions.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

deconstructing the garden




deconstructingpresent participle of de·con·struct (Verb)
Verb:
  1. Analyze 
  2. Dismantle

Shorter days, cooler nights, and the patchwork of fall-colored canopies frame life this time of year. Taking out warm coats and scarves, bringing in the last tomatoes and peppers; it is time to deconstruct the garden once more.

Cutting back perennials and extracting summer vegetables make room for mums and pansies which brighten the beds and endeavor to pay tribute to the finest of fall gardens, Dumbarton Oaks. All senses now perceiving fall.

Falling leaves and garden debris join forces in the compost pile. Black gold divided among the beds, and daffodils for planting; all the while planning next year’s venture. Enjoying the moment and aspiring for the future.