Friday, September 24, 2010

Around The Garden

I can't believe another week has gone by.  I am noticing many changes in our weather even though it has been very warm.  The leaves are whirling with many already on the ground, my faux pumpkin blew down the alley (not heavy like a real one) forecasting a changing temperature over the next few days.  Our highs are predicted to be in the sixtys rather than eighties.

The Sweet Autumn Clematis is lovely on the pergola and has not even fully opened yet.  The wind has blown many of the petals all over the patio.  I watch this grow over the summer with not a bloom on it, it shades the patio, and when it blooms it is well worth the wait.  I am going to cut it down in the fall this year just to get all of this off the pergola.  We'll see if it survives, have cut other type 3's down in the fall and they have been fine.


With the first frost the coleus will be gone.  Coleus has been one of my best performers this year becoming  wilted with the high heat but always bouncing back with a little water.


Inky Fingers intertwined with Bronze Sweet Potato Vine amongst the boxwoods, always does well in this environment.


This is a section of the alley garden that shows most of the plants growing there, just repeating as you travel the approximately thirty foot length. 


This is Agastache Blue Fortune, very fragrant and usually covered with bees.  It is not a problem in the alley but I would not recommend it for anywhere where you pass by often.  Next to it is Sedum Autumn Fire, supposedly a replacement plant for Autumn Joy.  However, it's color is not as vibrant, flower heads not as big, but it does not flop and stands through the winter.


Perilla is a wonderful plant to fill in the border.  It is an annual in my area and related to the coleus.  It can get to be about four feet high and has a stronger stem and leaf structure than coleus.


Diamond Frost Euphorbia pairs very well with roses and allysum.  It is fairly cold hardy but will succumb to frost.  It has been recommended to plant with pointsettas but you will have to pot it up and bring it inside if you are in an early frost area.


After Becky Shasta was done blooming and cut down the Plumbago took over and I did add some marigolds.  I am redoing this garden, less Beckys and more phlox and daylilies.

Purple Dome Aster is just beginning to bloom.  The rabbits really did a job on this in the spring and I thought it would never bounce back.  It has really filled out because the rabbit pruning.

I have already cut many flower heads of Limelight Hydrangea and have more to cut over the weekend for drying.  I will leave some to winter over and turn a light tan in the winter.

I will also be cutting some of the plums of Miscanthus Udine for indoor decorating.  They turn a beautiful pink as the weather cools.  This is not a grass that I would recommend be left standing for the winter, however, it is very difficult to cut it down when it looks so beautiful.  Last year I left it and it was a major chore to cut down when flattened by the snow.

Panicum Northwind is a great grass to leave standing over the winter.  It will turn a light tan and even with snow will pop back up when it melts.  It is usually about March when you will notice it is not as upright, but this is okay, it's almost spring.


Variegated Solomon's Seal is a plant that has held up through the seasons and the heat.  It is a fast multiplier and loves a shady or partly shady area.

There is a great deal of work to be done in the garden this time of year.  When I wait too long it is miserable trying to work outside trimming and cutting.  I am trying to keep ahead of this, knowing that if I don't pull some things out early it will be difficult to do this in a few weeks.



23 comments:

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

I enjoyed the photographic walk through your garden. I have lots of sedum in bloom but could stand to add a few more late bloomers and I definately want to add more grasses. I love the clematis that you opened with.
P.S. Great header. Have a great weekend.

Jim Groble said...

Your garden looks wonderful. You used the "F" word. It's in the 80s still so with a little luck maybe we can hold out for another month. jim

Becca's Dirt said...

Love all the variations in foliage. Coleus have done well for your Chicago gardens this year. Love the photo which shows your lovely patio and pergola. Very welcoming and cozy. Sept 28 is a good day for a birthday. Libra is a good sign. I'll be back on Tue to visit you.

Anonymous said...

Dear Eileen, I totally agree with you about pruning clematis. I have hard pruned all manner of varieties, regardless of the correct pruning technique, and have found that in most cases new growth springs up and the plant is completely rejuvenated.

Unknown said...

I'm going to have to look into that Sweet Autumn Clematis as this is the 2nd time this morning it has been posted going crazy with blooms.
Your flowers are so beautiful!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jennifer, the clematis is a long wait also summer, but I think it is worth it for some fall beauty.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jim, I wouldn't mind those 80's but not those 90's. I do like the crispness of fall and I can finally work outside.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Becca, I like the time of year of my birthday now, but when I was in school I was always one of the youngest.

Eileen

Karen said...

Eileen, I can't believe the diversity you have in your astounding garden, it looks as if you garden on five acres! And every last plant looks 'showroom shiny', just amazing. The coleus are so pretty, are you going to overwinter any? I'm still thinking about trying to overwinter that Diamond Frost, too...but where will I keep all the plants in my tiny house??

Thank you, Eileen, and have a great weekend.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Edith you are right. I did cut Henryi to the ground and now it looks great. So I am also going to cut some other down to be moved to a new locations.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

RG, it is difficult waiting all summer for it to bloom but I do appreciate it now.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Karen, I have a small lot and everything is pretty well planted out. If I want something new, I have to pull something else out.

I really do not have a large enough garage anymore to winter over my pond plants or anything else. I do miss doing that as it used to be such fun to see things come back to life in the spring.

Eileen

Lona said...

Hi Eileen. I just do not know why they do not have that Bronze Sweet Potato vine around here in the nurseries.I have admired yours so much. It adds such a great Fall touch now too. Great all growing season.
Your Sweet Autumn clematis is so lovely. Mine will grow up some day. LOL!
Have a wonderful weekend!

joey said...

Enough to say your garden is awesome, Eileen. Time well spent. Can we talk about the wind! Left home worried (80s) about what was not tied down :) to get here at the lake (60s) to find damage after 45 mile/hr winds to deal with tomorrow. Oh, the changing seasons have certainly made their face known, loud and clear.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joey, that wind was brutal yesterday and we lost power for about three hours the night before. I need to get out in the garden and move some things around before it gets too cold. I can't believe I am saying the word cold.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona, that Bronze Sweet Potato is a Proven Winners plant and I believe you can order some plants in the spring from their website. If not, I would email them and ask where there is a supplier of this plant in your area. I like it better than the bright green because it is more controlled.

There is a minature green one that I planted in my daughter-in-laws containers that looked like feathers, it was beautiful all summer,

Eileen

Shirley said...

I just came over from Quarry Garden Stained Glass and am impressed by the diversity in your garden. It is so lovely. You've done a great job and I love your grasses, particularly Miscanthus Udine. What is its hardiness range? I live in zone 3.

Shirley said...

I just came over from Quarry Garden Stained Glass and am impressed by the diversity in your garden. It is so lovely. You've done a great job and I love your grasses, particularly Miscanthus Udine. What is its hardiness range? I live in zone 3.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Shirley,

Thanks for stopping by. I am afraid Miscanthus Udine will only work through zone 5a. However, a really good source for grasses and info is www.hostas.com

Eileen

Dave@TheHomeGarden said...

Wow you have a very nice pergola! I would love to put something like that over our patio. Coleus is such a great plant! It's one of those annuals I plant every year.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Dave, the pergola was my husband's idea since we have such intense sun on the back patio. It has made it much nicer to sit outside, especially this summer.

Eileen

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl : ) I couldn't remember if I stopped by here or not on Friday .. I think I had "spining head" syndrome that day ! haha
I will be cutting my Sweet Autumn back in the Spring .. it is intertwined with other vines so I have to be careful about it .. I love yours on the pergola ! What a beautiful shaded spot in your garden ! I also have that hyssop (one of my originals !) I split it for a girlfriend's garden this past Spring and it seemed to love that ? both stands took off eh, and that scent is heavenly to me ! haha
I have had that coleus and it is gorgeous .. my front step containers are still going strong with that and the SP vine.
One of my other original plants is the variegated Solomon's Seal too and a huge favorite to me : )
YES .. there is much work to be done in the garden and I keep debating as to when I really have to knuckle down and get it DONE !
Lovely post girl !
Joy

Anonymous said...

Hi Edith, Your pergola is just to die for. I love how the clemmie weaves its way upward to shade your area. Just beautiful!