Autumn Color

This October we are celebrating autumn color, for we were cheated out of it last year when the rains began on October 1 and did not stop until June 1 this year. We had no real color, for the rains washed it all away. I am happy to report this year is much more typical with a few sunny days mixed with rain. We are all much happier.

From the beginning, I began planting with some autumn color in mind. Everything is still quite immature but I'm starting to see flickers of good color here and there. Here, an existing Japanese maple has grown since we've been here and this year, look out. It's on fire. I also wanted to point out the Amsonia hubrichtii in a row in the foreground. They are stunning plants this time of year and I'm pleased to see they are turning. Last year we got nothing.




Rosa glauca hips. These have persisted since summer, adding color to the outer garden.



 This Hydrangea paniculata (not sure of the cultivar) was one of the few plants to show off some warm tones last year and this year it did not disappoint. It's the only one of several hydrangeas that were here when we bought the property


 Here the color on the same shrub appears pinker with more overcast skies.



The second of three Japanese maples that were already here. This is showing the least color (for now) but is still lovely.



Crocosmia seedheads add orange color to the fall border.


Panicum 'Shenandoah' and asters in the meadow.


Sedum sieboldii is sporting some great hues right now. Very bright colors on this, an acquired taste. A blogging friend of mine once called it "clown whore sedum" and gave hers away.


Many of my shrubs are starting to grow, the Cotinus 'Grace' (smokebush) is no exception. This color just gets better as the season progresses.



Another fantastic four season shrub is Hydrangea quercifolia or oak leaf hydrangea. If planted in sun, the reward is brilliant color in the fall. It also has panicles of gorgeous white flowers tinged with pink as they age, then the foliage show. After the leaves fall, its exfoliating bark can be seen. It is native to the American Southeast.



This unknown grape was a gift from a fellow garden blogger. It is reaching great heights on our southern fence and this year is putting on color. We actually got grapes this year, we left them for our bird friends even though they were pretty tasty. I know nothing about growing grapes, but this will likely just be used for ornamental purposes. And fruit for the birds.


I fell head over heels at work for this shrub, Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' (Virginia sweetspire) - although 'Merlot' is a similar shrub and just as good. It is semi-evergreen for us and the foliage turns wonderful shades of red this time of year. In summer, narrow clusters of white flowers cascade over the foliage.


Seedheads of rudbeckia add little black dots to the landscape. They are also loved by the birds, so I leave them for the winter.


This was a throw-away from work last year: Cornus sericea 'Hedgerow's Gold' has grown quite a bit and is starting its glorious color change from creamy golden and greens to pinks and eventually vibrant reds. I tell customers at the nursery looking for a low-maintenance shrub with four seasons of interest to buy this dogwood. It starts out in spring with beautiful bright foliage followed by white flowers, then the foliage show for autumn followed by bright red twigs coupled with white berries. Plus, it's a native to the Pacific Northwest (a variant, but close enough for me).



Although not technically "autumn color" - these Zinnia 'Inca' have been outstanding all summer right through fall and are, well, Halloween colors so they deserve a spot in this post. Sedum 'Matrona' in the center is also attractive after the blooms are spent, it too has rich warm fall color.


Grasses are set off by yellow and oranges of a Japanese maple.


This is our native viburnum - Viburnum trilobum, one of two purchased last year at Bosky Dell Natives in West Linn, Oregon. Also known as high bush cranberry.


A sunbreak caught my attention.



Even the grasses are getting into the spirit. Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus'. Of all of my large ornamental grasses, the miscanthus have stayed faithfully upright. Others, not so much.



View south of my neighbor's property. I love the surrounding fall color, I try to borrow landscapes, if you will. That is to say I really try to consider what I plant as an extension of the surrounding landscape, and luckily my neighbors have some lovely trees. Taken together, the whole makes for a vast expanse of nature.



Salvia 'Black and Blue' - which is amazing it bloomed at all. It was a teeny start from a garden blogger's swap last year and it didn't really grow much. Then with the snow and freezing rain last winter, I lost my other two large plants (although they were in pots) as well as many other salvias. I took this for dead but it popped up in late spring/early summer and is just now blooming. 




 Amsonia hubrichtii, Panicum 'Shenandoah' and Anemanthele lessoniana 'Sirocco' catch the light.



Not technically fall color, these are lovely. Seedheads of Clematis 'Sundance'.



The third of the Japanese maples. This has put on a lot of healthy new growth in the last year and is really stunning at the top of the driveway. I almost took it out last fall as it looked very unhealthy and on its way out. I'm glad I waited.



This is an unknown chrysanthemum I bought at work last year. We have it in the gardens at Joy Creek Nusery, given to us by landscape designer Lucy Hardiman. When it bloomed in teeny little four-inch pots last October, we all went crazy and I think every employee bought one. 


Here it is full-grown. Well, at least one year old, it may keep going. Amazingly huge for such a tiny little plant to start out with. We sell out of this when it's in bloom.



Another Northwest native, Spiraea betulifolia. Such a great little shrub, it has wonderful flat white clusters of flowers in spring and sweet rounded leaves. The more sun it gets, the better the fall color.



Another dogwood, this is Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' (syn. Argenteomarginata'). This is similar to 'Hedgerow's Gold' but its species is alba, native to Asia. It too has variegation on the leaves which turns pinks then golds and reds before falling to reveal bright red bark. Forms thickets if allowed to sucker, which is fine with me. I gave it plenty of room. At work we have one trained as a 10' tree and it's quite stunning.


Fall color isn't always red and orange, here the yellows of fading Veronicastrum virginiucm 'Alba' and Clematis recta 'Purpurea' add dimension to a view out our kitchen window.



I love that this Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' - a throw away from work last year - has fall color. I never would have expected it. I adore this plant, it has been outstanding for me all year and the pollinators agree.


The view from underneath the old oak tree.


Hot hot hot!


Liatris spicata (I think, they were here) glows against Artemisia 'Powis Castle'.


This is for my tropicalismo-inclined friends. A Tetrapanax papyrifer, although not turning colors, per se, is striking in the fall border.


Although teeny right now, the foliage of this new Oxydendron arboreum or sourwood shows great promise. These are legendary for fabulous fall color coupled with white dangling lily of the valley kind of flowers at the same time. Wow. I have this planted where it has room to grow, is in full sun and visible just outside of our living room window. I've been wanting one for a long time.


Another great shrub planted just for fall color, Fothergilla 'Mount Airy' finally turned red this year. This was a gift from fellow blogger Anna of Flutter and Hum.



**Sigh** just taking it all in before it goes to bed for the winter.


A last look at Amsonia hubrichtii.



A few squash we harvested last week.



And this little guy hangs on our front door. It was a funny little decoration my grandmother put out for us kids every year. It reminds me of someone . . . hmm . . . who could it be?



Of course. Facilities Manager built himself a larger friend. Maybe this guy can help out around the garden?

The colors are changing faster than I can keep up. It's exciting to say the least, and the drive from home to work at Joy Creek Nursery some 12 miles away takes me through a corridor of lovely Acer macrophyllum among many other trees that are outstanding this year. I feel very blessed to be able to enjoy it all. I hope you have some wonderful fall color wherever you are, too.

That's it for this week at Chickadee Gardens. As always, thank you for reading and commenting, we love to hear what other gardeners are up to! Happy fall gardening, everyone and Happy Halloween!



Comments

  1. Lovely, lovely, lovely - your garden is going out with a bang.

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    1. Thank you Barbara! That's a great way to phrase it!

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  2. Your fall color is breathtaking, Tamara! I love that Miscanthus. While my area never gets much in the way of fall color, we've had little to none thus far this year and the prospects aren't good for anything later. Our current extended heatwave is burning even the leaves that do sometimes deliver fall color, like those on the persimmon trees, to a toasty brown. My Cotinus dropped all its leaves a few heatwaves ago. *Sigh*

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    1. Oh, thank you Kris! The Miscanthus is getting better and better, maybe I'll add an updated photo today. I am so sorry about your heat wave, we've been watching it and feeling for you all. This wacky weather. I wish yours were more typical of October in California. *sigh* is right.

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  3. You have a lot of lovely fall color. I think those clematis seedheads are so cute. They look like Thing in the Munsters.

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    1. Aren't they sweet? What I love even more is when they turn to fluffy little things and I leave them through the winter the hummingbirds grab them to make nests. Very cool. The Munsters, that's a great analogy! Love it.

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  4. Fabulous color ! And those "Throw aways" ! I was just looking at the JC plant list for 'Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' , may have to wait till next year , don't think I'll have a chance before you close up. Happy Halloween !

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    1. Thank you Linda! Yes, the throw aways look sad when I take them home, and because of that they are unsaleable. But, the roots are often fine and they usually bounce back. Oh, that Cornus - I can grab one for you if you like. It's fantastic. Cheers!

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    2. Yes , Please Grab ! I'll try to come by this weekend .

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  5. Wonderful! Especially those Japanese maples. I was just thinking today that I wish I had planted a few more tree-sized Japanese maples when I still had room, or vine maples in the wetter, shadier parts of the garden. Your Miscanthus, hydrangeas, Spiraea betulifolia, and Fothergilla look amazing, too! It's such a great year for fall color. I've been enjoying it in my garden this year too, as things have grown enough to start making a real impact.

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    1. Thank you Evan! Your fall color is to die for! Anyone reading this should hop over to Evan's blog and see what he's got going on. Wow. It's been wonderful, I am enjoying every minute. Sublime....and I can't keep up with it, it changes literally daily and will be over soon, I fear.

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  6. Autumn is looking great in your garden Tamara, your attention to its wonders is paying off. I'm so glad you featured Crocosmia seedheads, they're a favorite of mine but seem to be overlooked by many.

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    1. Thank you Danger. Crocosmia seed heads ROCK! That's half the reason to grow them!

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  7. I need that chrysanthemum. I hope you guys propegated a bunch ;) You highlighted my favorite panicum...'shenandoah'. It looks fantastic in your gardens. This autumn has been so delighful. I hope you are getting your fill. Your gardens look amazing in the autumn light. It really makes my heart happy to see how your gardens are growing and your beautiful designs coming to live. Happy Fall T!

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    1. Yes, you do need that chrysanthemum. We are sold out but I think I can dig you a start from mine if I see you before spring. Autumn has been a JOY for sure! Thank you for your sweet words, Jen. xoxoxo

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  8. So great! Everything is looking so good.
    I just learned from our neighbor yesterday that grapes come on the newest growth. So for pruning, you would cut off anything that had fruit this year. Unless, of course, you are wanting a larger plant. New growth will come off this year's growth, the individual vines will get longer, and fruit will come on the ends. We may sacrifice next year's grapes just to get all the vines under control and manageable. Oh - he said prune in January or early February. If you do it too late, they'll pour out sap.

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    1. Good to know, thank you for the tip! Sweet! You have enough grapes to start a vineyard out there at Northrop Acres - hmmm....wine? I see a bright future for you, Mindy!

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  9. Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the tour!

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    1. Thank you Darcy, thank you for reading and commenting. Happy autumn!

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  10. What a show!! I’m so glad we haven’t had too much rain this fall. I was never much of a fan, but all you Amsonia hubrichtii lovers are converting me. The fall color on Fothergilla ‘Mt Airy” is gorgeous, but I like mine for those cool spring flowers too. That’s something to look forward to.

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    1. Woo hoo! Don't you love the fothergilla? The spring flowers ARE fabulous, I kind of forgot about them. Indeed, another wonderful plant with many attributes. The amsonia are wonderful, especially en-mass.

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  11. What beautiful fall color. I wish we had color like that down here.

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    1. Thank you Rebecca! You're in Texas, right? I'm a little surprised you don't have some fall color like this. Well, we didn't have much last year, actually. I think this year is exceptional for it. We do love it, it's kind of nostalgic and romantic in a way, don't you think?

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