Explaining why she does not care much for autumn my friend
Grace once wrote (I'm paraphrasing) "I spend all year trying to make my garden look good, why would I enjoy watching it all falling apart?" (apologies Grace if I've butchered that too badly). I tend to agree with her, and I deny the arrival of autumn as long as I can, for that, and may other reasons. Like that I love summer!
So I deny, until I can't any longer. I'm finally just giving myself over to it. Enjoying the changes it brings to the garden. Of course it's helped immensely that with a few notable exceptions (like last weekend's "atmospheric river" and the incredible rainfall it brought) we've had some amazing weather this October.
I should also note I keep intending to declare this end-of-month "favorites" meme dead. It was fun, until it wasn't. Maybe this "mash-up" favorites of autumn post will be the finale? Or maybe I'll find something in the November garden that must be written about? Dunno. We'll see. In the mean time that's Peony foliage turning all golden with a bit of Leucosceptrum japonicum 'Mountain Madness' on the left and Daphne x burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight' in the front.
Imperata cylindrica, aka Japanese blood grass, with Yucca recurvifolia ‘Variegata’.
Unlike most Euphorbia, which really shine in the spring, I find E. x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow' to be at its best in the fall. In fact it kind of irritates me in the spring and I have to remember "but it's fabulous later" and not rip it out. Here it's looking good with Euphorbia rigida.
And with Hebe ochracea 'James Stirling'.
Something else I should mention about this rambling post. There will be washed out sunny photos, and somewhat somber shady photos — of the same plant. I took photos throughout the day and ended up with several I wanted to use. Poncirus trifoliata, fruit...
Foliage...
And both, with that gorgeous blue sky. Oh, and spikes too of course.
Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Mist', which is usually pretty stingy on the fall color. This is a good showing.
Now let's wander into the back garden for a bit. Hosta don't generally slide into autumn gracefully, at least in my opinion. These NOID (long story — a time killing stop at Bi-Mart) Hosta are kind of putting on a nice show this year.
The Clematis tibetana var. vernayi are not slowing down one bit.
The volunteer Virginia Creeper (it stowed away with a plant I brought from my Spokane garden) is coloring up nicely.
Hosta 'June' ages gracefully.
Syneilesis aconitifolia is going out in a blaze of yellow.
Ditto for the Chasmanthium latifolium, aka Northern Sea Oats
Podophyllum pleianthum
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Rochester'
Quercus dentata 'Pinnatifida' is coloring up at the bottom.
But staying green at the top.
Hosta 'Empress Wu' wears autumn well.
Where as Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart' just kind of collapses.
I love a plant that's already looking forward to the final days of winter and early spring, like this Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Akebono’ with it's flower buds.
Back out in the front garden Cotinus ‘Royal Purple' is on fire!
As seen with a Yucca rostrata...
And through the branches of Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths'.
Yucca aloifolia ‘Purpurea’ with Artemisia versicolor 'Sea Foam'.
A golden Tetrapanax leaf with Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Harmony’
Up at the front of the house Rhamnus frangula (Fine Line Buckthorn) is starting to take on hints of gold.
Highlights you might call them.
Whereas the Amsonia hubrichtii is full-on colored up, with another Yucca rostrata for contrast.
Possibly my favorite autumn vignette...
You, know, because there's an Agave!
Amsonia does glow in the sun...
And that Daphne x houtteana will forever stop my heart. Okay...that's enough autumn love. What's looking great in your garden on this last Friday of October?...
Weather Diary, Oct 26: Hi 71, Low 51/ Precip .01"
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