 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.
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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! |  |
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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. |  |
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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. |  |
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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. |  |
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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. |  |
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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. |  |
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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. |  |
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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. |  |
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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
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Asters (Aster)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Flowers: Showy
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
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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
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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
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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
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 Photo by Ursula
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 Photo by Kaktus
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 Photo by RuuddeBlock
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 Photo by Zoia
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 Photo by kniphofia
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 Photo by RuuddeBlock
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 Photo by Char
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 Photo by tarev
"Baby toes in bloom!"
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 Photo by dave
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 Photo by kniphofia
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The numbers from this week:
270 members joined.
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 Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.
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