“In the garden, autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.” ~Rose G. Kingsley
When you have weather like we have had this fall, autumn is indeed the crowning glory of the year. By the end of October, the leaves were ripped from the trees by the remnants of tropical storm Patricia. But the amazing foliage on the bushes, the few flowers still found, and the changing leaves on perennials still amaze as November starts.
The above picture is how the garden looked when I returned from Denver on the 20th. We had 2 frosts and wet snow, but the garden soldiered on. Then another frost last week still did not deter my garden. it wasn’t until the fourth frost on Halloween that most flowers faded. Of course the 10 inches of rain also put a damper on the garden a bit, but I think it actually insulated and nurtured it more.
I highlighted the Veg Garden last week, but I wanted to update and say I did get the garlic planted at the end of October….about 150 cloves including cloves from scapes missed this year and last year.
I am linking in with Helen@The Patient Gardener’s Weblog for her End of Month View as I review a bit of the glories of October’s garden.
Weather
I wanted to show off the spectacular sunrises that came with the colder mornings. They were made even more spectacular with the patchy clouds we saw more and more of as autumn settled in. I am wondering when our first measurable snow will be (hoping not until Christmas). The killing frost is usually around the middle of October (came instead 2 weeks later), and measurable snow in mid-November. But the forecast is for a warmer winter, and November is starting off unseasonably warm with temps in the 60s. Will it continue? I hope so!
Garden Views
The sun is lower in the sky, and doesn’t last long in certain parts of the back garden that is more in shadow now. But I loved how it glowed in late afternoon here near The Arch Garden. I thought I would highlight some flowers and foliage that really stood out through most of October.
Flowers
The white Colchicum were still blooming in the White Garden right up until the end of the month, despite some cold and rainy weather.
This is my late-blooming, Crocus speciosus. It does not last long if it is a cool and wet fall, but I love seeing these late in October. They make me think of crocus in spring.
Japanese anemone are long-lived in my fall garden….6-8 weeks in the shade. I keep saying I need to plant some more in my shade garden.
Monkshood is an interesting plant in my garden. I have some that blooms in summer in full sun and part sun. But this one blooms in October in the front garden. Love seeing this purple flower blooming late in the garden.
My only Toad Lily continues to bloom late in October in The Arch Garden. The others I planted are long gone, but I love seeing this unusual plant every fall.
Yes these are the petunias I planted in late spring in my antique containers on the front porch. They continue to bloom right through the end of October despite the cold and freezing weather. Wow!
And my favorite late plant is the ‘Chocolate Joe Pye’ or Eupatorium rugosum. I love white flowers against the dark chocolate stems and dark green leaves. I keep saying I need to add some to The White Garden. Perhaps next year. This plant remains a small clump in The Side Garden. Unlike other Joe Pye, this one does not spread itself around the garden, and is rather well behaved.
Foliage
This Miscanthus grass is slowly taking over on the side of the patio, and will need to be cut back and part of it removed. But I love this grass in fall as it changes color until it becomes a copper-colored papery grass contrasting against the greens or the white of snow.
Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’ shines in The White Garden although it rarely flowers as it is shaded by the gazebo. But in the fall, it blazes red in the shade and sun.
Lots of foliage turning orange, red and yellow, especially on shrubs. Here in October, I look forward to (starting top left): Sanguisorba officinalis, Blue Muffin® – Arrowwood Viburnum, unnamed peony and Hydrangea quercifolia. The center photo is a different unnamed peony. I love to see the different foliage on each of the peonies in fall.
Critters
We closed the pond, and removed the pump last week so now the waterfall is off , and the pond is still. Before the last frost, the frogs were still pretty active. These are the two green frogs who have been a couple all summer. I have many photos of them canoodling….they are so cute. After the last couple of frosts though, the frogs decided it was time to hibernate, so goodbye little froggies. See you in spring.
There were still pollinators through the end of October although they were very slow….mostly bees and flies. I did see many dragonflies through the third week in October.
And the Juncos returned in late October. I will have a wildlife post on my other blog on Thursday. A new visitor to the pond in late summer will be featured so stop by, Living from Happiness, for this Thursday.
I am sharing all our critters with Saturday’s Critters hosted by Eileen@Viewing nature with Eileen that happens every Saturday.
So there you have the highlights of my garden in October. What was a favorite highlight in your October garden?
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In A Vase On Monday
With so many flowers still blooming at the end of October, I decided to pick them and showcase these amazing blooms in several vases.
Yes, these are the only dahlias that finally started blooming the third week in October.
I placed them in a crystal vase with roses, cosmos, toad lily, and included some asparagus and Baptisia foliage.
Fairy roses and a surprise fragrant, reblooming climber were a wonderful highlight in the first vase.
Here are several more views of this stunning vase.
The leaves of Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’ were still lovely and green in the garden so I wanted to use them in this small vase with cosmos, red Knockout rose and the pink flowers of the Pelargoniums I brought inside. They are blooming like crazy now inside my cozy house.
I decided to give the cosmos an autumn look, so I added the cattails, toad lilies and fluffy asparagus foliage. I saw the Sanguisorba officinalis were putting out new flowers, and clipped these too giving the vase more height.
Of course the monkshood in the front garden was a must for this last vase, along with Gaillardia which I am highlighting in a post in a few weeks.
Red Knockout roses were still blooming with Lonicera sempervirens ‘John Clayton’ in the wall garden so they were included. I hope they are still going strong when I do my next Stuck Foot post in a couple of weeks. I finished this vase with foliage from Baptisia and Clethra just turning yellow. I love the autumn blooms and colors in this vase. Not sure what might be left blooming in November, but I may be surprised.
I am joining in with a few memes this week as I prepare these vases: Cathy@Rambling in the Garden for her wonderful meme, In a Vase on Monday, Today’s Flowers hosted by Denise@An English Girl Rambles and Judith@Lavender Cottage who hosts Mosaic Monday.
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Next up on the blog:
Monday, I will be wrapping up the Linden tree I have been following this year.
I am linking in with Michelle for her Nature Notes meme at her new blog just for Nature Notes. It is a great way to see what is happening in nature around the world every Tuesday.
I am also joining in I Heart Macro with Laura@Shine The Divine that happens every Saturday.
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