Friday, October 12, 2012

How the Front Curb Area is Faring

I think I've already mentioned that I'm glad that not all plants succumb to the first freezing temperatures.  That makes it easier to deal with the first losses.  There are still some blooms to cheer us up and provide nectar for the bees and butterflies that have also survived.

I will go around from the west side, facing north, showing some close ups and some wider views.  I figured out the photos that aren't centered are ones I cut and pasted to rearrange their order.  I will leave them that way, since they almost look like I did it on purpose, and I don't want to fiddle with them.


The sedges I planted look like they will make it.  I've never grown them before this year.  Now, I wonder if I have a tag around to remind me what kind they are.



I would like to learn how to make new rose plants from stems.  This mystery rose that I got from the sale table at a local garden center a number of years ago blooms off and on from spring to fall.  I use no fertilizers, but always think I should do some organic feeding of some kind.  Still, it does not complain.


The persicaria clumps I planted a year or two ago from a friend are looking good.  I was going to take the liatris plants that I think are 'Kobold' down so they couldn't produce more plants, but didn't get it done.  I suppose I still could.


I think this sedum is 'Indian Summer'. I don't remember what kind of agastache  or salvia that is behind it, but it was not newly planted this year.  I'm glad for its color this time of year.


The grape hyacinths are coming up like they frequently do in the fall. They will still bloom this summer, unless something else causes a problem.



Continuing east, the perennial geraniums are nice and green.   The goldenrod is about finished blooming.  The red is the second clump of persicaria.


Here's one of the grasses I planted this summer.  It may be sideoats gamma, which is one that I know I planted.  I got a few nice sized clumps, and split them in half to increase the number of plants I got in.



Several of the lavender plants have a second flush of blooms.  I didn't get much dried, but did cut back the spent blooms.  The asters are performing well.


The lantanas took awhile to bush out and bloom, and would like to go on awhile, but the weather will soon stop them.



I am having trouble deciding what I think of the reblooming iris.  It seems to me that they are too springy looking for me to like as much in the fall.  Still, they are adding color to the fall garden.


There are still some rose moss blooms.



There is more room on the sidewalk than it looks from here.


This is next to the sidewalk, showing the knautia is still blooming. That looks to be another side oats gamma near by.



I don't try to totally mirror what's in each bed, but there are a lot of the same plants on each side.



This sedum, also shown above, is from several stems I took from one in another part of the yard a few years ago.



There are still a few blooms on the geraniums.




The blue salvias reseed each year.   In front of them are some cool looking seed pods on a butterfly milkweed.


The daylilies had lots of brown leaves this summer, and I got most of them pulled out.  They have put on enough new growth that they no longer look stressed.


We've turned the corner, and are heading back west, facing south.


The goldenrod, 'Fireworks' is one of the last to bloom.  It could be because I cut them back in the summer to keep them compact.  That does delay bloom time some.


I'm glad I didn't pull the New England asters out when their lower leaves and stems were turning brown.  I try to keep them trimmed back in the summer so that they are more compact, and that seems to help keep the stems relatively healthy.   I sure like the bloom color.


I'm thinking I should probably cut back the milkweed plants.  Someone told me there are no more monarch eggs this time of year, if I am remembering correctly.


There are some holes in this area where I planted some seeds, maybe native larkspur.  I was thinking about taking out the stressed daylilies, but these are also looking much better.


I didn't plan on letting any verbena bonariensis grow in this area, but there seems to be room here for these.  I've pulled some coneflowers out here and there that have aster yellows.  These seem to be OK.


Here's the view looking back to the east.  The leaves from neighboring trees are starting to collect to provide some winter protection for the plants. 


We have a good chance for some rain this weekend.  I hope we get a good soaking.  I am not ready for winter, so I am thankful we still have some color.  What do you have blooming?

12 comments:

  1. I think you're right about the NE aster. I also thought about pulling some of mine out but once they bloomed I'm glad I didn't.

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  2. Sue, I pulled too many goldenrod and miss the heck out of them now...It's always a learning curve in a garden and trying to find the right balance is sometimes hit or miss. You have a lot of color for having had serious frosts/freezes and the garden looks great. Love that so many of your perennials seed about...Makes gardening frugal! Have a good weekend. gail

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  3. It is nice that some blooms hang on longer. Unless we get iced, there are usually treasures hiding ou there. I like all the leaves collecting around the plants. Like they're tucking them in.

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  4. My daylilies looked awful on this drought summer, and I cut them all down. But they came back looking better now. I'm not as crazy about them as most gardeners are. Is that sacreligous to say? LOL

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    1. Robin, I think our tastes for plants evolve over time. Daylilies used to be one of my favorites, but lately, I have been feeling I have too many, and would rather use some of the spots they take for other plants.

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  5. The asters are beautiful along the walkway. It is definitely starting to look like fall here as well and I'm not ready for winter either! Your fall gardens are looking lovely!

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  6. It never ceases to amaze me how many different species you have in your garden! I just moved down south and am planning to xeriscape the front yard with natural drought tolerant plants. I keep looking at your yard, as it is such an inspiration! What are the little orange flowers in the picture behind the iris. They are really pretty, and such a brilliant color! Would love to try them. The Golden rod is also just stunning...who would have thought!

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    1. Thanks! I looked at the photos, and the orange flowers I saw are marigolds that self sowed from last year's heritage kind. The plants are nice sized, and the flowers are bright.

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  7. Happy GBBD! I am loving that goldenrod. It is much more graceful and wispy looking than most I have seen. The asters are really pretty as well. Thank you for sharing your garden with us.

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  8. You have so many plants! I am amazed that you know so many of them....I tend to forget. I love that deep purple aster and the way it hangs over the walk.

    You won't have to worry about winter mulch. I love it when the leaves do that.

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  9. I really appreciate that the grape hyacinths put up leaves in the fall, as it prevents me from accidentally digging them up when I am moving perennials in fall. I wish that more bulbs put up a caution sign like that.

    The reblooming iris are a pretty blue. It does look very spring-like, but I wouldn't mind a reminder that spring will be coming on the other side of winter.

    I really like moss rose. I used to grow it when I had more sunny areas in my garden. I should look around for a suitable site next year.

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  10. I love looking at your posts and photos of your garden! You are an inspiration!

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I welcome comments and questions from anyone, including those who do it anonymously. Some people find my posts by doing searches, and I like hearing from them. I guess spammers won't even read this message, but I will delete spam as soon as I see it.