This Month's Color in the Garden October 2017: Chrysanthemum for the Autumn Garden

This Month's Color in the Garden October 2017

Autumn is upon us in the northern hemisphere and it's time for another This Month's Color in the Garden. For the month of October the feature color is orange and Chrysanthemum comes to mind, as it is a favorite fall addition for many a gardener, supplying a burst of color for the landscape as the temperatures cool.

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora)

Chrysanthemum, commonly referred to as mums, are characterized as perennials in many areas, but are also treated as annuals by many gardeners. Their bright colors and variety of blooms are an attraction in the autumn garden. Depending on the specific variety, most mums are cold hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, which means they can overwinter in the ground. In northern areas, it is preferable to plant Chrysanthemums in spring so they have the entire season to become established. In southern areas, they may be planted in either spring or autumn, but autumn is best to avoid excessive heat. Most Chrysanthemums do well in an organic well-drained soil in full sun. To care for your plants and keep them full, pinch back new growth when it reaches 4-6 inches and continue pinching through June. This will keep plants compact and prevent them from blooming too early.

Chrysanthemums

There is much history and folklore behind Chrysanthemums. Named from the Greek prefix "chrys-" meaning golden (the original color) and "-anthemion," meaning flower, years of hybridization have produced a full array of colors including shades of yellow to white, orange, purple, pink and red. Chrysanthemums are the November birth flower, the 13th wedding anniversary flower and in Japanese culture, the opening of a chrysanthemum's petals represents perfection. Confucius at one time considered these plants to be associated with mediation and since the 15th century, Chrysanthemums were grown as flowering herbs and considered an honored plant with exceptional powers. Folklore says that a single petal at the bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life. Since this month's color is orange, orange is known to symbolize joy, warmth, optimism, happiness, freedom, expression, enjoyment and creativity. Throughout history, the American Indians have associated the color orange with kinship, and in China and Japan, the color orange symbolizes happiness and love.

Chrysanthemums come in a variety of colors.

Whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere, Chrysanthemums can be an excellent addition to your garden. Other orange blooming flowers include Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), Lillium, Lantana, Marigold, Zinnia, Dahlia, Butterflyweed, Helenium, Red Hot Poker, California Poppy or perhaps Bird of Paradise or Aloe for those warmer climates.

I hope you enjoyed This Month's Color in the Garden for October. Please do share your experiences with the color orange in your garden, whether it be with plants, hardscape or garden decor. Next, join me for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up on the 15th! See you around the garden!

 Linking with: Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, Friday Photo Journal and Dishing It & Digging It.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up October 2016: Beauty of an Autumn Garden

October 2016 Garden

The month of October has arrived and so has autumn with all its beauty. As the temperatures decline into the 60's, there is a refreshing chill in the air and colorful foliage is emerging throughout the landscape. There is an array of both new and established blooms, as roses, lilies, butterfly bush and viburnum continue to flower, joined by chrysanthemums, liriope and daisies. It's the 15th of the month and it's time for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up. Come stroll along with me through my October Long Island garden.

Daylily 'Stella D Oro' October

We start the tour with raindrops on lilies after a passing shower. The Stella D' Oro Daylily are continuing to bloom with dazzling yellow flowers from early summer to frost. I do a simple rejuvenation on them in August in order to get them to re-bloom and bring in the fall season.

Variegated Liriope and Japanese Garden Juniper Combination

Variegated Liriope is in full bloom with its vibrant purple hyacinth-like flowers emerging on reddish-brown spikes, just in time for autumn.

Weigela 'Spilled Wine' and Juniperus 'Limeglow'

Here is my Weigela 'Spilled Wine', which is adjusting nicely in the garden after being planted in August. It is all about the foliage with this plant and an added bonus will be its pink blooms in spring-early summer.

Double Knock Out Rose

There is something wonderful about a rose that just keeps on blooming, and these Double Knock Outs fit the bill.  I have had them in the garden for several years now, but they never cease to amaze me as they push out profuse blooms from June until frost.

Bumble Bee on Butterfly Bush Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip'

The bumble bees continue to enjoy the dwarf butterfly bush in the back garden border as they busily pollinate, and I enjoy the resulting blooms! 

Evergreen, Flowering Shrubs & Perennial Garden

Here is a view of long-blooming Lo & Behold Butterfly Bush with Gold Mop Cypress, Caramel Coral Bells and Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. I enjoy this combination of evergreens, flowering shrubs and perennials as the garden changes throughout the seasons.

It's All About the Foliage-Sedum and Maiden Grasses

Over the years of being a garden designer, I have also enjoyed combining various hues and textures of foliage. This particular combination is especially striking to me, even more so in autumn, as the foliage of the sedum changes color and the grasses are showing their wispy plumes.

Blue Atlas Cedar October Seed Cones

The Blue Atlas Cedar is showing off its larger than usual cones for this time of year. It could be a sign of a severe winter approaching, but hopefully not.

Coral Bark Maple October

Signs of autumn appear as the first of the trees on the property starts to display its changing colors. This Coral Bark Maple is lovely for its beautiful yellowing foliage and reddening bark as the temperatures start to decline.

Weeping Japanese Maple Autumn

Soon the large Weeping Japanese Maple on the front lawn will start to lose its leaves, unveiling its beautifully structured trunk.

Plum  Krauter Vesuvius 

This 'Krauter Vesuvius 'Plum has matured nicely and is getting established in the garden after being planted about five years ago. Besides the delicate light pink blooms it produces in spring, this tree is also all about the foliage...

Weigela 'Spilled Wine'

as is the foliage of this Spilled Wine Weigela, as we pass it by once more.

Pool Garden

Here are some of my favorite evergreens along the pool garden. Weeping White Pine (left), Golden Hinoki Cypress (center), Montgomery Blue Globe Spruce (center in front of Hinoki) and Dwarf White Pine (center front).  They add structure to the garden throughout the entire year, but especially in the winter months. The 'Yaku JIma' grasses are also seen here to the right, with their feathery plumes.

Weeping White Pine (Pinus strobus 'Pendula')

Here is Weeping White Pine close up. This one has been here since 1996.

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

In the back partial-shade garden is Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake', which blooms on and off throughout the summer and into fall.  It is still pushing out some of its delicate white blooms that remind me of lace doilies each time I look at them.

Weeping Norway Spruce, Salvia 'Caradonna', Spirea 'Magic Carpet', and Agastache 'Kudos Yellow'

Strolling back around to the driveway garden is purple Salvia 'Caradonna' with Spirea 'Magic Carpet', Agastache 'Kudos Yellow' and Weeping Norway Spruce in the backdrop. The Spirea 'Magic Carpet' and Agastache 'Kudos Yellow' are new to the garden this year, and I am getting lots of enjoyment from their continuous blooms.

Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku JIma'

Autumn wouldn't be the same without ornamental grass plumes, so we need to pass by and take a closer look! This is dwarf maiden grass 'Yaku Jima', which stays more compact than some of the others.

Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)

The Nandina domestica (or false bamboo) is also starting to come into character with its fall berries, which will turn a bright red for winter. This plant exhibits bamboo-like foliage, but does not spread like its counterpart, making it a wonderful addition to the garden.

Perennial Border October

One thing I love about gardening is how the landscape changes with the seasons, always bringing something new and exciting to look forward to.  As the blooms start to fade, a new array of color starts to present itself with hues of orange and gold.

Montauk Daisy

So pretty are these Montauk Daisies that are in the neighbor's garden across the street. I always look forward to them blooming and wonder over to take a photo every October. Having resided in the home I grew up in, I have admired these flowers for as long as I can remember, and the lady who has planted them is very special to me.

Autumn Mums

As our tour comes to an end, we pass by the chrysanthemums on the back stoop...

October 2016

along side this unusual tree bark pumpkin which I discovered a few years ago. The blooms are right within constant view and surely make me smile every time I pass them by.

Hydrangea 'Tardivia' in a Vase on Monday

The last of the 'Tardivia' Hydrangea are now in a vase on the kitchen counter, bringing a little of the outside within.

October 2016 Garden

I  hope you enjoyed your stroll through my October garden. Special thanks go out to our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up.  I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, I Heart Macro, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. Also check out What's Blooming This Week Garden Update, In a Vase on Monday at Rambling in the Garden, Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day and Saturday's Critters.

In the news: I was invited to do a talk and presentation on garden design at the local gardening club this past month and got to meet lots of lovely gardeners who share the same passion!

Planning your Garden?: Have you read my book? For gardening tips and design information, you may be interested in my recent publication on Amazon, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer (Gardening in Zones 3-9). If you have read my book and found it to be helpful, please consider taking a moment and leaving a short review on Amazon. Reviews help a book get noticed and your help would be very much appreciated!

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2016. All rights reserved

The Fall Garden-Fall Blooming Perennials & Shrubs

Fall Garden

Autumn has arrived in the northeast and as daytime temperatures decline there are still a variety of fall blooms that can brighten and add longevity to your landscape.  As many of the summer blooms start to fade fall blooming perennials and shrubs such as Sedum, Aster, Liriope, Goldenrod, Butterfly Bush and dwarf grasses among others can add interest to your late summer-fall garden and bring you enjoyment late into the planting season.  The varieties of shrubs and perennials mentioned below have proven to be hardy and reliable in my zone 7 northeastern garden and will be sure to add delight to your outdoor space.

Variegated Liriope (Lillyturf)
Zones 6-11
Sun-Part Shade-Full Shade
Height 8-16", Width 8-12 "

Variegated Liriope or Lillyturf is a wonderful perennial for all summer long with interesting texture and grass-like variegated foliage followed by vibrant eye-catching spikes of purple blooms in late summer and fall.  It fits nicely into either a formal or informal landscape and lasts into winter.  At this time of year it is at its peak and is spectacular!

Sedum 'Brilliant'
Zones 4-8
Full Sun to Part Shade
Height 18-24", Width 18-24 "

Sedum 'Brilliant' is a more compact form of sedum which stays upright while other varieties such as 'Autumn Joy' tend to get top heavy and fall over.   'Brilliant' displays vibrant deep pink blooms that turn orange in fall on top of succulent-like clumping foliage.  Planted along with dwarf grasses it makes a nice fall statement.  I have plenty of these on my own property and they always add wonderful interest to the fall garden.

Aster Michaelmas Daisies (Pink)
Zones 5-9
Full Sun
Height 12-24", Width 12-18"

Asters are a known sign of autumn and are commonly seen in perennial borders or in container plantings.  They add an eye-catching display of color to the garden.

Aster Michaelmas Daisies (Purple)
Zones 5-9
Full Sun
Height 12-24", Width 12-18"

Asters come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, red, blue and white and serve nicely in a cut bouquet or as dried flowers.

Solidago sphacelata 'Golden Fleece'  (Goldenrod)
Zones 4-9
Full Sun - Part Shade
Height 18-24", Width 18-24"

Goldenrod is a bright fall perennial that displays golden-yellow flowers on arching branches and is popular in the New England cottage garden. Do not confuse it with Ragweed which blooms about the same time and is an allergen to many! Goldenrod comes in a number of varieties ranging in size from two to six feet. 'Golden Fleece' (above) stays at a more compact height of only two feet.

Hydrangea 'Tardivia'
Zones 3-8
Full Sun-Partial Shade
Height 3-6', Width 3-6'
 

Hydrangea 'Tardivia' is a beautiful long blooming variety of hydrangea that lasts well into fall with large elongated white blooms on dark green foliage. While other varieties of hydrangea have completed their bloom season 'Tardivia' steps up to the plate and lasts well into the first frost.   The gently fragrant blooms are an added wonderful delight as one passes by.

Dwarf Fountain Grass
Zones 4-9
Full Sun -Part Shade
Height 2-3', Width 2-3'

Dwarf fountain grasses are a popular addition to the garden due to their wispy silvery bottle brush plumes produced in fall.  Fountain grasses add interest and movement in the garden throughout the season and provide winter interest as well. The variety pictured above is 'Hameln' which stays as a compact 2-3 foot plant and serves well in just about any type of garden.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' (Purple Coneflower)
Zones 4-9
Full Sun
Height 24-36",  Width18-24" Wide

Echinacea or Coneflower forms showy upright clumps of vibrant blooms from late summer into fall that are a feeding station to many species of butterfly. There are many varieties of this beautiful perennial ranging from pink to yellow to white and they serve beautifully in a perennial border, cottage or prairie garden.

Rudbeckia
Zones 3-9
Full Sun-Partial Shade
Height 2-3'. Width 18-24"

Rudbeckia or "Black Eyed Susan" is a popular perennial in cottage, woodland  and prairie gardens and blooms from late summer throughout fall into the first frost.  Bright golden-yellow petals surround a darker central portion that pop in the garden.  Rudbeckia spreads freely and serves nicely as a mass planting in sun or part shade.  Rudbeckia and Echinacea complement one another beautifully.

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

Zones 5-10

Full Sun
Height 3-4, Width 3-4'

 

Knock Out Roses are an excellent addition to the garden since they produce continuous blooms from summer throughout fall.  The above variety 'Radrazz' puts on a show of vibrant pinkish-red fragrant blooms all the way until frost and is a favorite of garden enthusiasts.   This one is also a personal favorite of mine right along with Pink and Red Double Knock Outs. 

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Zones 4-9
Full Sun
Height 3-4', Width 2-3'

Russian sage produces bushy upright stalks of grayish leaves that are lacy and fragrant.  Spikes of violet-blue blooms appear in late summer and last well into fall.  The open informal habit of Perovskia makes it a great filler in the backdrop of a cottage style perennial garden or border.

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' (Turtlehead)
Zones 3-8
 Sun-Part Shade-Full Shade

Height 24-30",  Width 18-24"

I recently discovered Chelone (Turtlehead) in a friend's garden this fall.  Turtlehead are native wildflowers that adapt easily to garden conditions.  Showy and long-lived they are a magnet to bumblebees and butterflies and bring nature to the garden.  They serve nicely in an informal perennial border. 

Chrysanthemum morifolium (Hardy Garden Mum)
Zones 5-9
Full Sun-Part Shade
Height 1-2', Width 2-3'

Last but not least is the traditional fall flower..the hardy Garden Mum.  Mums come in a vast variety of colors and last well into the first frost.  They are often planted in containers for a fall punch of color or can be placed in the garden for autumn blooms. 

The arrival of Autumn does not mean the end of the gardening season. By simply adding one or more of these selections to your landscape your garden blooms will be prolonged well into fall and bring extended enjoyment to your outdoor space.

What's blooming in your garden?

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2013. All rights reserved