Sunday, October 12, 2008

Fall- week 4- October 12

Nice, nice, very nice. Indian summer- call it what you want. The windows were open last night and it could have been July. One way that you know it is not July is that the trees are turning. When we go for a walk in the morning, we hit that wonderful time when the sun just comes up. It does that angled light thing, where the colors are accentuated, at least at the yellow end of the spectrum. When you combine that light with the changing leaves, it gets you started on the right foot for the day.
I also notice that the hosta leaves are turning. While we have not had a frost, several big-leafed hosta was turning colors this weekend, making wonderful patterns. By next week the Solomon’s seal will start turning, and I promise some pictures.

In the garden at the moment there are things to see. Somehow the fact that you have to look for blooming things just makes you appreciate them more.
There were the Japanese anemones, which have been blooming for weeks.
There was the little solitary cyclamen, (or should it be cyclaman if it is singular?) . Actually it is a different single flower at the moment as the one from last week has finished and another one took its place.
The toad lilies are still going and the monkshood have started.
The monkshood are about 4-5 feet tall with these great blue/purple flowers on top. I tried to get some other colors this year but that plant didn’t make it. So I will try again in the spring I suppose.
And it is pansy time. They have finally come down in price at the hardware store and I can buy as many as I want to plant.


Here are pictures for the week

First is a white fall crocus that I just planted on September 16. They really do bloom right after you get them. I have some just coming up, both from this year and last. We shall see how fast they bloom or whether the frost gets them. I bet they will be fine.










Here is toad lily Imperial Banner. It is tiny. It is suppose to get to 2 feet but is 5 inches. Maybe this is special.
You get a second picture to appreciate the size.
















The anemones in all their glory merited another picture this week.












Finally there is monkshood. I have just put all four pictures together to better appreciate these wonderful 5-foot tall critters.























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Last week the plant with the most votes was the red spiny thing, the seedpod of the castor bean.

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The plant exodus continues as you will see in the pictures.

Here you can see the clivia ingathering on the front porch. They will all go find a quiet corner until they come out in May. Last year in May I had 4-5 blooming all at the same time, and that would be the goal.
























Last week there was a picture of this nice agave of some sort. It grows side shoots over the summer, which get clipped and repotted. Here is a group picture. Please keep in mind that I had already brought in about a dozen of these plants. I must plan a bed with an entire border of these.









This is the weekly cyclamen picture as a bud is coiled and ready to rise.













This is a clematis seed head. You can actually see the little side hairs. This camera I have is a Cannon Power Shot630. It sells for about $200 and does quite well. I do find that real close-ups are hard, particularly for a person with bifocals.













Then there is this single impatient. Annuals can be quite rewarding in the fall, particularly with a late frost.
















I will close on this note. We began buying pumpkins this weekend at the farmer’s market. I am starting to have empty plant hooks. What was a novelty last year, will get an encore performance this year.


Have a good week.
Philip

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