Hosta

hosta putting on a Fall show

Every shade garden needs hosta.  This hosta, called Krossa Regal, with its large blue grey leaves and prominent veins,  is a standout in the garden at any season.  But the spotlight yellow colour of the leaves make you appreciate it all over again in the Fall.  I am always torn between getting an early start on cleanup, in case the bitter winds come early, or waiting for the Fall display of colours from my garden plants. 
If you clean up too soon you miss the leaves of evening primrose blushing bright red. You haven't paid attention to it since it bloomed yellow in the spring, but suddenly it reminds you why its in your garden. Lamium is another plant that just keeps on going. In a shade garden the white leaves draw your eye and the flowers are a bonus!  But it stays pretty and fresh looking through the Fall.

As the leaves lose their chlorophyll the resulting colour is still prized.

lamium still making a display

Fall Colours

mature Japanese Maple in Port Credit

The Fall colours are stunning.  Some days I just want to stand still and stare.  Japanese Maples display beautiful yellows, reds and oranges at this time of year.
The grasses, swaying gently in the breezes and making rustling sounds outdoors also make the season special.
Hydrangea and burning bush can be relied upon for colour, now.  And while burning bush appear bland and insignificant the rest of the year, their eye-catching colour now makes you want to plant hedges of them in your yard.

Karl Foester grass with large burning bush in the background

Hydrangea and burning bush add colour and structure in Fall

Rattray Marsh, Mississauga

Meadows of goldenrod

purple asters

The Handyman and I took a walk in Rattray marsh to look for birds and fall colour.  As yet, the leaves have not  changed, but the Fall wild flowers are in full bloom, making meadows of goldenrod and jewelweed.  Goldenrod has achieved some status in recent years and has moved into urban gardens where it is appreciated for its height and Fall colour. The jewelweed clumps up in vast areas and attracts humming birds to sip nectar from their deep throats.  It clustered close to the paths, so was easy to spot. The purple and white asters contrast with the yellow goldenrod to paint the meadows with lovely contrasts.  The yellow warbler is supposed to live in those woods, and while we heard bird calls we did not recognize, we did not catch sight of any of them. Have they fled south already?

berries on dogwood

Do you know what this is

Jewelweed

Cloverleaf Garden Tour, Sept. 25

charming garden shed

anemonies

"Neon" Stonecrop

relaxing by the pond

hydrangeas add Fall colour and structure

Actea "White Pearl"

What a good idea to have a garden tour in the Fall!  While most of the tours are in the early summer, I have a deep curiousity to know what people's gardens will look like throughout the seasons.  In the Fall you have to rely on certain standbys for colour.  Of course you want a burning bush in your garden. The new dwarf varieties have magnificent colour. The provide the structure that is essential when planning a garden for 4 seasons.  Then another standby is stonecrop.  The new varietals have much more vibrant colour than the perennial favourite "Autumn Joy".  "Brilliant" and "Neon" are also wonderful to lead your eye into the garden.  A new dark purple leaf variety has sturdy stems and huge flower heads that contrast beautifully this time of year. Look for a stonecrop called "Chocolate Drop" in your nursery.
Hydrangeas of all sorts graced the garden tour and added colour and structure in the garden.  There are many varieties to choose from, large and small and some with cone shaped flowers that emerge white and fade to pink.

A formal setting

Everyone's favourite garden seemed to be the one on Oakwood.  Every spot in the garden was designed and accounted for. Boxwood and evergreens formed the planting backdrop of the garden, while a beautifully integrated formal design with slight Oriental accent provided a restful oasis for the homeowner.

Dark leaf bugbane with lime green lamium in the foreground

bugbane "white Pearl'

There was a wonderful variety of plant material and design styles on the tour.  And I think everyone found some aspect they would like to incorporate into their own garden. I'm noticing Actea (bugbane) this year.  For a plant with such a horrible name it s a truly majestic plant in the garden this time of year.  A central stem with many branches carries the flowers on individual stalks that hold a single flower.
"White Pearl" is 3 - 4 feet tall with white flowers against the purply stems.  I am going to find a spot for this one in my garden.
 The plant sale allowed people to pick up Rose of Sharon, stonecrop, rudbeckia and very many other plants for their own gardens. Thanks to the organizers.  The tour was very well done!

Riverwood Conservancy, Mississauga

A September walk in the Riverwood is a delight.  The trees are just hinting at the colours they will display in a few weeks.  The birds, squirrels and chipmunks are scurrying around hiding food for winter.  And the gardens are putting on a final show of blossom and colour. At the entrance to Chappell house a sculpture of hawks stands guard in front of a backdrop of sumac.  The tassels of the grasses sway in front of Chappell house and the Russian sage has captured the photographer on the right.  Just behind the grasses is the pond with a lotus blossom in full bloom. You can see the limey coloured pod in the centre of the flower that are harvested and sold in garden centres.

The beauty of walking in a public garden is the scope for large plants that may not fit in your own. This is true of the above beauty which is about 4 feet by 2 feet and towers over the retaining wall around this patio. I believe this is a cimicifuga or Bugbane 'White Pearl" it can grow up to 6 ft tall in southern Ontario.  The stalks are a wonderful lavender colour.  I think I want one!

Sept. Garden Tour!

The Cloverleaf Walking Garden tour takes place on Saturday Sept. 25, 2010, rain or shine.  What a wonderful opportunity to see what you would like planted in your own Sept. Garden. There are 18 gardens on the tour, and a walking tour of the village of Port Credit is always enjoyable.  You can buy tickets at any of the gardens, or in advance.  Check out the website at www.CloverleafGardenClub.org

Sedum

One of the plants of Fall is the stonecrop "Autumn Joy" with reddish bronze flowers. Bees are thankful for it too. In the photo above, it has not revealed it's deep colour yet, but is just showing the first blush. But Autumn Joy seems to have fallen out of favour recently in people's gardens and more people seem to plant " Brilliant" with its pink blooms.  I like both plants. I like the contained structure of the plant itself all summer long, and then the hit of colour when it is most needed in the garden.

Like all succulents its plump green leaves seems to claim the three dimensional space around it, making other leaves look page thin.  It is best to keep this plant at a reasonable size, by dividing it in Spring.  Once it gets too full the stems fall over and you miss its structural beauty.