Autumn Arrives in the Winter Garden

My garden is a summer garden.  Full sun in most areas, with roses thrown in anywhere space allows.  Summer fades slowly here.  The roses bloom well into October, possibly November, and some years even December!  I hate to see summer end.  But there is one area that makes me want to welcome autumn with open arms.

Do you remember last year when I decided to turn the boxwood garden into my winter garden?  Well, recently I was asked by a visitor why I hadn't mentioned the winter garden lately on my blog.

Uh, because it's not winter?

Honestly, the answer is because I've not paid it any attention.  I was busy this summer with other areas of my garden, and this part of the garden was completely ignored.

But lately, the winter garden has been on my mind.  After all, autumn has arrived, hasn't it?  It's hard to tell here.  I'm still wearing shorts and the temperatures still get up to 80 degrees during the day, but that's 20 degrees lower than our summertime highs, so I suppose it's as close to autumn around here as we get.

James Galway

James Galway is planted next to the winter garden, and he is at his best during our autumns.  Everyone that stops by remarks about how pretty this rose is.  And he really is quite handsome!  (And he smells great, too.)  They don't even glance at the winter garden.

But, if only they would look past James, visitors would see that there really are a number of things going on in the winter garden.

Three camellias planted in this garden (a 'finlandia variegated', a 'green's blue', and a new one planted just this year, 'autumn pink icicle') are loaded with buds.  No blooms, but a gardener doesn't need blooms to get excited.  Buds are exciting enough.

Of course, this bed has had its share of problems.  Earlier in the year, I killed a camellia (not enough water), and a cimicifuga (too much water) that was new and tiny.  Can you tell I had problems with the sprinkler system in this area?  I've replaced the cimicifuga, and am hoping I do better with this new one.  (I put it in a different spot.)

Another reason this bed is often overlooked is because most of the plants in this bed are young.  I try to tell myself that this is a garden hidden with a lot of little treasures to discover.  In reality, I'll be thrilled when the larger plants have matured enough to peek over the top of the boxwoods.

Two plants that are large enough to see are the roses that are planted here.  Souvenir de St. Anne's is planted next to James Galway, and she is looking very pretty right now.

This picture doesn't do her justice.  She is really a very delicate pink.

Souvenir de St. Anne's

Do you see the spider on her?  The spider has turned pink, too!

Carefree Beauty

Carefree Beauty is also blooming in this bed now.

And the abelia has been blooming most of the summer.  I am hoping next year will be the year it grows taller than the boxwood hedges surrounding it.

A clematis carries through the dark pink color scheme.

And if you look close enough, you will find another dark pink treasure - cyclamens.  Although these are newly planted, and an annual here, I'm hoping they are located in a position sheltered enough to make it through our winters.

I have a lot of hope for this bed.  As the days grow shorter, and the shadows grow longer, I find myself naturally drawn more and more to this area.  Perhaps it's the shade, perhaps it's the evergreens, perhaps it's the purple chrysanthemums I added to this area.  Perhaps it's just my imagination, but to me, it has the feel of autumn.  It's calmer, softer, more subdued.

In the rest of my garden, summer is no distant memory.  The roses are still blooming.  The lantana are still attracting butterflies.  Even the canna are performing as if it's July instead of October.

But autumn has arrived.  At least, autumn has arrived in the winter garden.

I'm joining Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers Boom Day.

The Presidential Gardens Tour

I was thrilled.  The airline didn't bump me.  The flight was on time (early, actually).  And my luggage was not lost.

And when I looked down from the plane's window, I loved what I saw: green, green, and more green.  There were green trees everywhere.  It was just beautiful.  And while it was too early for a full fall foliage display, I didn't care.  I was going on a Presidential Gardens Tour!

In the end, I was pleased to visit three gardens of previous Presidents.  Can you guess where I was?

Charlottesville, VA is home to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's famed home.  James Monroe's home, Ashland-Highland is just 2-1/2 miles away from Monticello.  And in Orange, VA, outside of Charlottesville, sits James Madison's home, Montpelier.

Just a little advice: Do NOT type in Montpelier into your gps tracking device, or google maps, expecting them to know it as a point of interest.  Both of them will take you to the town of Montpelier, VA, an hour away from your intended destination.  Unfortunately, I learned that the hard way.

And if you are planning your own Presidential Gardens Tour, George Washington's Mount Vernon is just a few hour's drive from Charlottesville (near Alexandria, VA).  But due to time constraints and complications with traffic congestion, my plans to visit it were spoiled.

I'll just have to plan another trip!

Here are just a few of my vacation pictures from Monticello, Ashlawn-Highland, and Montpelier.  We'll start with the home of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello:

Monticello from the back.

See that pathway in the picture above?  This was a circular pathway lined with flowers on both sides.  I could imagine walking along this path every morning, and maybe I'll be able to incorporate this design somewhere in my own garden.

This is just one of the groups of flowers lining the pathways.  So many different varieties of flowers all placed together!  And the plantings were different in each grouping.  In addition, they were planted very densely.  So, while not everything in the groupings were blooming at the same time, it had the feel that the entire group was blooming because they were planted so closely together.

But I was most impressed with the vegetable garden:

So different from my weed-filled vegetable garden!  Some things had just been planted.  Their little leaves were just beginning to pop up through the soil.  And some things were ready to be harvested.  I felt quite inadequate as a vegetable gardener here!

Above is another area of the vegetable garden.  There were a few pods, but most of these peas were in flower.  Morning glories and other climbing flowers were planted along with them.  It was just beautiful.

Instead of taking the shuttle bus down the hill, we walked.  About halfway down is the graveyard.  I loved this unusual headstone, and think it looks especially lovely with the lush plantings around it.

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Just around the corner is the home of the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe's Ashlawn-Highland:

Ashlawn-Highland from the back.

Ashlawn-Highland was a small house, but the grounds were beautiful.  The approach to the house was lined with ash trees.  Oh, how I wish I had a winding road leading to my home.  I would love to have it lined with trees like this.  Simply gorgeous.

They also had a beautiful vegetable garden (shown below), and a small kitchen garden with numerous herbs and a fig tree right outside the kitchen doorway.  I am determined to have a much less weedy vegetable garden next year!  I especially loved how they had beautiful ornamental plantings outside the vegetable garden.  There was even a climbing rose bowing over the picket fence.   You know I found that charming!

According to our guide, the tree below was over 300 years old!  This wasn't the only tree that commanded attention.  There were several areas where large and beautiful trees were featured.  Note to self: plant more trees!

Check out the free-range chicken in the background of the picture below!  haha - The rooster was trying so very hard to keep his "girls" in line, but they seemed to be ignoring him!  In addition to chickens, there are also peacocks that wander the grounds.

While this garden was smaller than Monticello's, it had a uniquely enjoyable personality.  

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Home to the fourth President of the United States, James Madison's Montpelier (in Orange, VA!) was the final home we visited.

Montpelier from the back.

The Annie duPont Formal Garden was lovely (the duPont family owned Montpelier for many years).  It doesn't look large when you first step into this garden, but as you begin to find little areas tucked away, it begins to dawn on you just how large this garden actually is!

This above view is just one small area looking across the garden.  A hedge lined most of the straight walk through the middle of the garden, but wander around, and you will realize that there is much more about this garden than just what you can see from the main path.  Hidden on either side are lovely plantings, several benches, secret pathways, and even a rustic bridge.

It was fun discovering these little secret areas.  See the bench in the picture below?

Besides this particular garden, there was much more to discover here, including hands-on demonstrations, and a forested walk.

Next to the house are the model slave quarters (above).  Before going to Virginia, I read 'Founding Gardeners', the book reviewed by Dorothy of Soil Sister of the San Joaquin.  I am so thankful that Dorothy brought this book to my attention.  It made the founding fathers come to life for me, and I noticed things in these gardens that my eye would not have caught before.  These slave quarters are just one of the many things discussed in the book.

This temple located on the grounds is also discussed in the book.  It sits over a well which was used as an ice house, keeping the temple cool, and allowing them to serve iced drinks and even ice cream during the summer - a rare treat back then!

A close up of the plantings at Ashlawn-Highland.

Each of the gardens were uniquely wonderful.  Famous and beautiful, you could see the love of gardening that Thomas Jefferson had at Monticello.  James Monroe's Ashlawn-Highland had gorgeous views and lovely garden areas.  And James Madison's Montpelier was quite impressive with its numerous trees and rolling hills.  I recommend touring all three!

Have you had the opportunity to tour these gardens?

Fringe Benefits

Do you like fringe?

Hanging strands of pure decoration can delight, enhance, and add personality.  It does the same for plants.  I've noticed I have three plants with fringe all planted in the same bed!  I love these little extra touches of decoration.

Chinese indigo

Chinese indigo (indigofera decora) has the most elaborate fringe.  Very frilly.  Quite orate.  This would make a beautiful pendant.  And the delights don't stop at the fringe.  Look at those purple stems!  A beautiful pendant of small pink pearls hanging by a purple cord.  Quite stylish!  I wish I had one of these in my jewelry box.  Read more about this plant here.

Loropetalum

Loropetalum is appropriately nicknamed fringe flower.  Its little strands of fringe hang down casually, almost wildly.  What do you see?  I see the fringe of a circus horse.  The ringmaster holds on to it by a braided leather reign that is secure, but not tight.  Its fringe bounces up and down, delighting children and impressing adults.  Read a little more about this plant here.

Caryopteris

Caryopteris has fringe that sticks up, instead of hanging down.  This is the fringe of a ballerina's tutu.  She turns pirouettes as the audience holds its breath.  She is so beautiful, so enchanting, the subject of many artists.  But a picture or a photo can never quite capture her radiance.  After the show is over, her performance will be remembered fondly, and with a touch of awe.  It will seem like a dream until her show starts again the next autumn.

I love the fringe in my garden.  It awakens my imagination, and brings such delight.  The same can be said about vacations.  One of the fringe benefits of having sisters is that they sometimes invite you to vacation with them.  I will be gone on one of these vacations for about a week.  When I return, I will have stories to tell, photos to show, and experiences to recall.

Until then, I hope you find some delights in your own garden, and a plant or two showing off their fringe.

Norman

The Weather Channel had a brief explanation.  Too brief, I thought.  But then again, I had just switched to that channel when I heard them talking about it, so perhaps I missed some of the coverage.

I had just begun to brace for a warm, dry autumn and winter.  The jet stream, it was said, was going across the United States quite a bit north of Texas, blocking cold fronts from traveling down to us, and thus, thwarting any rain chances that we had.  The prediction was for this to continue, and I have been concerned about another drought starting in autumn like the drought we experienced in 2011.

Then Norman came along.  Norman was what The Weather Channel was explaining when I casually clicked to that channel, looking for the day's radar.  Norman was different.  Norman was unexpected.  Norman was, well, not normal.

You see, here in east Texas, we watch for hurricanes or tropical depressions forming in the Atlantic Ocean.  If these tropical depressions travel into the Gulf of Mexico, we have a pretty good chance of getting rain here.

But Norman was different.  Norman was coming from the Pacific.  Norman was traveling over Mexico toward Texas.  And, Norman was south of the jet stream (the same jet stream that was blocking the rain from the north), so the rains coming from Norman were staying in the South.  It would move across Texas, Louisiana, and other Southern states, slowing moving eastward and northerly.  It was also bringing rain.  Lots of rain.

Over the past two days, Norman dropped over 6 inches of rain on my garden.  I am so pleased.  My plants are looking perky.  It had been dry, and I had gone back to watering.  There was flooding in some areas, and I hope no one was adversely affected.  Here, rain was very much appreciated.  Six inches was thrilling!

Maybe the rest of the winter will be dry.  But for now, I'm thankful for Norman.

The remnants of (what was) Norman are traveling eastward.  Were you, or will you be, affected?

Red!

How do I feel about red?  Well, actually I love it!  I know a lot of gardeners that won't have it in their garden - too garish, too bright, not pastel!  I've heard so much talk about pastel gardens that I tried to add a pastel area to my garden.

And what is in my pastel garden?  Well, some pastels, of course.  Whites, creams, pinks, blues:

But, look closely - what do you see in the background?

Red!

Red sage.  That was all that was on the plant tag when I purchased this plant.  It wasn't special.  It had no fancy name to it.  It was red.  It was a sage.  Red sage.  That was it.

I bought it on a whim, and when I got it home, I had second thoughts.  This was surely a big mistake!  In the thrill and excitement of buying an unplanned purchase, I had forgotten - this was supposed to be a pastel garden!  Oops!  Who has ever heard of adding red to a pastel garden?  I was deflated, but I planted it anyway.  What else could I do?

Who would have thought that a plant so common, so non-pastel could look so wonderful here?  This little plant, labeled so simply, and purchased so thoughtlessly, really is special.  The butterflies love it.  It blooms with profusion.  It has spread to fill in this area nicely.  It brings the butterflies joy, but even more importantly, it brings me joy.   It is a lovely addition, even to my pastel garden.

Now I can't imagine this bed without that touch of red.  It brings a touch of contrast, but doesn't clash - perhaps because I have so much red in all the rest of my garden areas.  Or perhaps because of our harsh sun.  Maybe it's just the right shade of red.  Whatever the reason, this little bit of red looks natural and beautiful to me, even here.

This is probably some form of Salvia greggii, also known as Autumn Sage, a perennial in zones 7 through 9.  It grows to around 2 ft tall and wide, and loves full sun.  It also comes in a wide variety of colors.

But I love it in red.  Even where it's not supposed to be!

Do you have a pastel garden?  Do you have red in it?

The Problem with my Penstemon

I planted a penstemon this past spring.  It was the first penstemon I had ever planted in my garden.  And I kept looking at it, and looking at it, and looking at it.  Something was wrong.

Yes, yes, it's pretty enough.  And the butterflies love it.

Oh, how the butterflies love it!

But, there was a problem.  Each time I would pass by, it would catch my eye.  And I knew something was wrong.  Was it the penstemon?  Or was it me?

What was the problem with my penstemon?

Penstemon 'Elfin Pink'

Finally, it dawned on me.  The problem with my penstemon is that it is one penstemon, not a lot of penstemons.  This little penstemon is pretty enough, but it doesn't make an impact.  I tried to get by with less.  I tried to save some money.  I skimped.  And it shows.  It just looks skimpy!  One is definitely not enough.

I had been wondering if I should just dig up this penstemon, but actually, what I need to do is the exact opposite.  I need to plant more.

What was I thinking?  One of the first rules of garden design (for non-accent plantings) is to plant in masses, or drifts.  I have just proved to myself why that's important.  Usually, the larger the bed, the larger the grouping should be, and the smaller the plant, more are required to make a visual impact.  This area will look wonderful with another five or six penstemons.  That will make a nice grouping.  And the butterflies will appreciate having more of them, too.

Then there won't be a problem with my penstemon anymore.

Sticks, Not Stones

Last year about this time of year, I was thrilled to see a praying mantis.  But this year, I'm even more excited because I saw the very first Walking Stick insect in my garden!  At least, the very first I've ever seen in my garden.

He is upside down in this picture.

Actually, he wasn't in my garden yet.  He was on the neighborhood crime watch sign in front of my home.  I don't think he cared if he was trespassing.  He was on a mission!

Why do I think he was a he and not a she?  Because he has the male pinchers that act to hold on to the female when mating.

But that's not the end of the story.  The next day I saw this Walking Stick again.  And this time, he was not alone.  He had found a she!  Mission accomplished!

Walking stick insects mating

So, there's at least two walking stick insects in my garden!  And from the looks of it, there's going to be more.  I wonder how far he traveled to find her.  Can you see how he has his legs wrapped around her?  What a sweet hug!

Here's some interesting facts about these insects you might not know:

1.  They only eat leaves and stems.
2.  They have a special joint that allows them to easily break off a leg if it becomes necessary in order to escape a predator.
3.  Females don't really need a male to reproduce.  She is able to reproduce asexually, but those eggs will only produce females.
4.  Some species of these insects are as small as 1/2 inch, while others are as long as 21 inches.
5.  There are over 3,000 species of stick insects, and there is thought to be many more that have yet to be discovered.
6.  Because of fact #3, there are some species in which scientists have only found females, and think the males are extinct.

Maybe next year I'll be lucky enough to see some of the children of these two lovers.  Do you have Walking Stick insects in your garden?