Bald cypress (rust), Aster 'October Skies' (blue), Amsonia (yellow), Sedum (red), Baptisia (green)
You might think this tired and worn, but I find the above view stunning and rich--a haven for winter birds.
A view from the deck.
This is our west fence, and it always provides a bucolic view I'm envious of, since it's not visible from any of the windows.
L-R--Viburnum nudum (red), Miscanthus 'Nippon' (white), and the Asters and Amsonia.
The last few days have seen warm temps, and in conjunction with the asters blooming, a final resurgence of butterflies. Yesterday we even had 5 monarchs on the Aster 'Purple Dome,' surely their favorite fall nectar source. This garden pleases me immensely (though it isn't perfect--every year only one part of it is, and since this is a drought-like fall, the shrubs aren't as showy, but the flowers are doing well). As I garden year after year, this small landscape teaches me more and more about my own fleeting existence. It was just yesterday that the coneflowers bloomed; it was just yesterday when I got my first car and headed off to college.
I can't wait to see how plants mature next year, but I know too they won't last. As I get older, lust turns to love, looking to the future becomes patience and looking to the now. It's a slow process, and I'm sure I won't have even begun to learn it when I'm old and (more) crotchety. But at least with my hands in the soil I can temper my humanity--a good thing, even as an owl hoots from dark trees as the last bit of light settles behind them.
15 comments:
With all that blooming going on, I was wondering if you had a last spurt of butterflies around the grasses, flowers, etc. That last shot is is lovely.
The Bald Cypress is making a nice backdrop for the rest of your plants. Today I saw the first hint of fall color from a large specimen growing on the edge of a tidal creek.
Beautiful fall colors - lovely post.
Your garden is just beautiful and will continue to provide activity and interest all winter long. Tired? Never! Here on the farm we always leave piles of leaves, spent plant life and lots fallen branches. Bee keepers are envious and tell us our messy way of farming is perfect for bees! Ahh, perfection, finally! You have it too.
It's beautiful. You have a marvelous sunny native plant garden! I dream of full sun! gail
R--And that last shot could've been even better! I'm kicking myself for missing something I shall never tell.
L--I can't wait until mine is a large specimen, of course I won't live here then. I hope the next place I live is zone 5, too, so I can have another cypress. The weeping one I have is like half hardy here.
G--Thank you! And we're only 50% there on color....
SD--I'm with you, leave it and forget it. I did tie a bundle of hollow stems to the fence, and something has sealed itself in several tubes for winter. Mason bees?
Gail--I dream of more shade! :)
Beautiful gardens. And I love the idea that hands in the soil can temper humanity. I can almost hear your owl. Nice.
Wonderful post and congrats on all the fall color. It is wonderful to see our efforts mature...my meadow now has more fall color and with all the aster I have more monarchs. Can't wait to see your wonderful fall color next year. Each year it just gets better!!
This post made me slow down and enjoy a little bit of delicious melancholy and decline.
Your plants and views have really filled in and I know your feeling of being immensely pleased with it all. What a reward.
I love the garden is Autumn...there is something wonderfully bittersweet about that sort of gasping crescendo of color and texture. Every spent plant and pregnant seed head holds the memory of summer glory.
Barb--I feel much better when I have dirt under my nails. There may be a biological reason for that.
Donna--It always surprises me when people complain of a lack of fall blooms and color. So many choices for that final fireworks display going into winter!
Laurrie--too pleased at time, but soon the garden will humble again. And I'm one for delicious melancholy, let me tell you!
Scott--Seed heads! MY wife enjoyed the baptisia "rattle" I shook for her last week. Even seed heads are really cool--screw flowers! :)
Hi Benjamin,
Your October garden looks wonderful! I enjoyed enlarging the photos to see more details.
Thanks for your comment on my blooms.
Reminiscent of your header picture.
Sue--I wish blogger allowed bigger photos. I'm more and more aware of good my pics need to look as thumbnails. Thanks for clicking them bigger.
Greg--I suppose it is. Maybe it's time for a new header image? And yet, I like the echo of my small "prairie" beneath that larger one.
I hope you never have to leave that beauty that you have created. Love the bucolic view. Worth putting a chair there on occasion.
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