Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
|
|
The Little Bulbs
Fall is bulb planting season, and while many gardeners focus on the showy blooms of tulips and daffodils I have a personal preference for what people call the little bulbs. (Some people call them minor bulbs, but that doesn't seem fair, considering how lovely and low maintenance they are). These petite, unusual bulbs aren't always found in garden stores, so you may need to mail order them -- and now's the time! | |
|
|
How to Grow and Care for Violas
From tiny Johnny jump-ups that pop up each spring to cheerful large-flowered pansies, violas are popular garden plants that bring smiles to all. Flowers come in a rainbow of colors, many with intriguing blotches and endearing, whisker-like lines radiating from the center, resulting in blooms that resemble upturned faces. Violas love cool weather and are some of the first plants for sale in spring, bringing much-needed bursts of color after a gray winter. They're also popular additions to fall plantings. | |
|
|
Fall Garden Cover Crops
Growing a fall cover crop is one of those good garden tasks that we all know we should do, but often don't find the time for. Cover crops control erosion, attract pollinating insects, break up heavy soils, improve soil fertility and structure, and reduce weeds. Plus, some, such as red clover, have edible flowers. | |
|
|
Preparing Perennials for Winter
After a season of enjoying the blooms from your perennial flower garden, late fall is the time in cold-winter regions (USDA Climate Hardiness Zones 8 and colder) to prepare the beds for winter. | |
|
|
Saving Flower Seeds for Replanting
Saving seeds can be economical, since a single flower can generate dozens or even hundreds of seeds. Although the procedure is simple, there are a few techniques that will improve your chances of being a successful seed saver. | |
|
|
Trusty Tips on Tree and Shrub Planting
An old Chinese proverb states, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." One way to think about this is that a tree planted 20 years ago would be providing a good amount of shade by now. But it's also a reminder of just how much trees grow over time. This is why it's very important to keep the mature height and spread of trees and shrubs in mind when you're considering choices and locations for planting. | |
|
|
Gift Baskets from the Garden
Gardeners are fortunate; we tend to surround ourselves with natural beauty. Instead of diving headlong into the gift-buying frenzy, we can take a look around the yard and garden and find materials for creating lovely gifts. People enjoy homemade gifts - especially those that come with a story. | |
|
|
Preserving Herbs
The most common ways to preserve herbs are drying and freezing. You can also make herb-based sauces. Try one or more of these methods so you can enjoy that fresh-picked flavor year-round. | |
|
|
Lithodora (Glandora diffusa)
Plant Habit: Shrub Life cycle: Perennial Minimum zone: 5a Sun Requirements: Full Sun, Full Sun to Partial Shade Plant Height: 4-12 inches Plant Spread: 2-3 feet Leaves: Evergreen, Other Flowers: Showy, Other Flower Color: Blue, Other Bloom Size: Under 1" Flower Time: Late spring or early summer, Summer, Late summer or early fall, Other Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic Uses: Groundcover, Will Naturalize, Erosion control Wildlife Attractant: Bees Toxicity: Other Propagation: Seeds: Start indoors, Sow in situ, Can handle transplanting Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem, Cuttings: Tip, Other Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots, Suitable for hanging baskets Awards and Recognitions: Other
| |
|
|
Asters (Aster)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb Flowers: Showy Wildlife Attractant: Bees
| |
|
|
Common Lantana (Lantana camara)
Plant Habit: Shrub Life cycle: Perennial Minimum zone: 9a Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade Water Preferences: Mesic, Dry Mesic Plant Height: Some specimens can reach 4 to 5 feet in height Plant Spread: 4 to 5 feet Leaves: Evergreen, Malodorous Fruit: Showy, Edible to birds Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall, Fall, Late fall or early winter Flowers: Showy Flower Color: Yellow, Orange, Pink, Mauve, Other, Lavender Bloom Size: Under 1" Flower Time: Late spring or early summer, Summer, Late summer or early fall, Other Underground structures: Taproot Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic Uses: Windbreak or Hedge, Groundcover, Medicinal Herb, Will Naturalize, Suitable as Annual Wildlife Attractant: Birds, Butterflies, Bees Resistances: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Tolerates dry shade, Salt tolerant, Humidity tolerant, Drought tolerant Toxicity: Fruit is poisonous Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem, Division Pollinators: Bees, Moths and Butterflies Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
| |
|
|
Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)
Plant Habit: Shrub, Tree Life cycle: Perennial Minimum zone: 8b Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade Water Preferences: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry Plant Height: 10 to 20 feet (3-6 m) Plant Spread: 10 to 20 feet (3-6 m) Leaves: Fragrant, Evergreen, Other Fruit: Showy, Edible to birds Fruiting Time: Other Flowers: Showy Flower Color: Bi-Color Bloom Size: 1"-2" Flower Time: Late spring or early summer, Summer Underground structures: Taproot Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic, Espalier, Topiary, Patio/Ornamental/Small Tree Uses: Windbreak or Hedge, Shade Tree, Flowering Tree Edible Parts: Fruit, Flowers Eating Methods: Raw, Cooked Wildlife Attractant: Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees Resistances: Deer Resistant, Salt tolerant, Humidity tolerant, Drought tolerant Propagation: Seeds: Needs specific temperature, Days to germinate, Depth to plant seed, Start indoors, Sow in situ, Can handle transplanting, Other info, Self fertile Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem, Layering, Other Pollinators: Various insects, Bees, Birds Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots Awards and Recognitions: Other
| |
|
|
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Lavender Blue Baby')
Hybridizer: Carpenter-J. Year of Registration or Introduction: 1996 Foliage type: Dormant Scape height: 28 inches Bloom size: 5.5 inches Bloom time: Early midseason Plant Traits: Rebloom, Diurnal Fertility: Pod Fertile, Pollen Fertile Bloom Traits: Eye or Band Bloom Form: Single Color description: lavender blue with lavender blue eyezone and green throat AHS Awards: Stout Silver Medal, Award of Merit, Honorable Mention, DCS, LEP Plant Habit: Herb/Forb Life cycle: Perennial Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade Flowers: Showy, Fragrant Propagation: Seeds: Will not come true from seed Propagation: Other methods: Division Ploidy: Diploid
| |
|
|
Photo by Ursula
|
|
Photo by Kaktus
|
|
Photo by RuuddeBlock
|
|
Photo by Zoia
|
|
Photo by kniphofia
|
|
Photo by RuuddeBlock
|
|
Photo by Char
|
|
Photo by tarev "Baby toes in bloom!"
|
|
Photo by dave
|
|
Photo by kniphofia
|
|
Active threads from our forums:
Thread Subject
|
Forum
|
Replies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The numbers from this week:
270 members joined.
3,155 posts written in our forums.
1,438 photos posted to the plant database.
606 plants added to personal inventory lists.
|
|
Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.
|
|
|