Here are a few random images from the garden on this bright, warm, early autumn day.
The sun shines beautifully through the leaves of Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' and Libertia ixiodes on my deck.
After staying green in the shade most of the summer, the new growth of Loropetalum chinense 'Sizzling Pink' is emerging a rich plum purple. It's doing remarkably well for a shrub that has been moved at least three times and spent a few of its early years in a pot.
Aloe dorotheae continues to regain her orange tones after being moved outside. I don't know if it's because of the increased sun, or the cooler nights, but one of those two stressors is doing the job.
Plants from visits to Viscaya, Joy Creek, Far Reaches and the Xera open house (plus a few random acquisitions) are all waiting for wetter weather to be tucked in for winter. I couldn't resist another Arctostaphylos 'Martha Ewan', and A. 'Greensphere' is new to me. And I actually came home with Convolvulus cneorum - in late September. Just call me hopelessly optimistic.
In the Northwest Territory temporary nursery, more shrubs await the rainy season to be planted. The Mulch Man reworked a few beds and rock borders, so huckleberries, foxglove and mahonia had to come out. They'll be joined by some additional huckleberries, several new Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide" and Physocarpus 'Summer Wine'.
As this seemingly endless summer winds slowly down, we've been enjoying eggplant and tomatoes from the garden. If you look carefully you can see the fruit of eggplant 'Ping Tung Long' (I love saying that name!) through the blades of Libertia peregrinans.
I've been hearing rumblings of discontent about the continuing dry weather from some of my gardening blogger friends, and I seem to be alone in loving this weather. It just can't be too dry or sunny for me, so if this is autumn, bring it on!
The sun shines beautifully through the leaves of Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' and Libertia ixiodes on my deck.
After staying green in the shade most of the summer, the new growth of Loropetalum chinense 'Sizzling Pink' is emerging a rich plum purple. It's doing remarkably well for a shrub that has been moved at least three times and spent a few of its early years in a pot.
Aloe dorotheae continues to regain her orange tones after being moved outside. I don't know if it's because of the increased sun, or the cooler nights, but one of those two stressors is doing the job.
Plants from visits to Viscaya, Joy Creek, Far Reaches and the Xera open house (plus a few random acquisitions) are all waiting for wetter weather to be tucked in for winter. I couldn't resist another Arctostaphylos 'Martha Ewan', and A. 'Greensphere' is new to me. And I actually came home with Convolvulus cneorum - in late September. Just call me hopelessly optimistic.
In the Northwest Territory temporary nursery, more shrubs await the rainy season to be planted. The Mulch Man reworked a few beds and rock borders, so huckleberries, foxglove and mahonia had to come out. They'll be joined by some additional huckleberries, several new Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide" and Physocarpus 'Summer Wine'.
As this seemingly endless summer winds slowly down, we've been enjoying eggplant and tomatoes from the garden. If you look carefully you can see the fruit of eggplant 'Ping Tung Long' (I love saying that name!) through the blades of Libertia peregrinans.
You will not hear me complain about this weather. No way. I love it, love it, love it!!! I'm going to milk this sunshine and blue sky for all its worth. And it's worth a lot. Sure I'm tired of watering but I'd rather be tired of watering than tired of rain which will be here in short order. Everything in its time, right?
ReplyDeleteYou've got quite a stash there in the NTTN and your Loropetalum looks wonderful. I've got two and they both look good now that I discovered that they like dappled sun and lots of water. Now watch. You'll tell me yours like full sun and no water. :)
I think your Loropetalum is in a good place if it has dappled sun, Grace. One of the reasons ours has moved so many times is our stumbling realization of its aversion to hot sun.
DeleteGood stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe've had some wonderful autumn days here complete with prematurely colored leaves thanks to our rainfall deficit.
I love the Ensete Libertia picture. Beautiful leaves plus backlighting!
I hope our low rainfall brings beautiful leaves too, Chris. We're so delayed on that front that I can't even tell yet.
DeleteI'm with you! Loving our warm and dry September/October! We should maybe push the dates of the Annual Pacific Northwest Rain Festival (October 1 - July 4) further forward!
ReplyDeleteP.S. It's nice to know that there are other plant addicts with temporary nurseries!
DeleteYou, Grace, Loree and I need to start a lobby for extended summer. A little temporary-nursery-sun-club kind of effort.
DeleteOh Jane...you know you're not alone! Your cheer-leading equal is over here in NE Portland LOVING each and every day. This can't last too long for me! And you know what? I think you're holding area has even more plants in it than mine, times five!
ReplyDeleteBetween you, me, outlawgardener and Grace, we're looking like a real force for good (good sun, that is). That's after we quietly knock off Scott, Heather, and their twisted autumn-rain-loving friends... ;-)
DeleteI just want a *little* rain. So I can put new plants in the ground. That's reasonable, right? :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, a *little* rain would be fine with me too. But this is Portland, and you know it rarely works that way rain-wise. But thank you for jinxing the rain by getting your gutters rehung!
DeleteI'm afraid to even grumble about watering--I know we will have plenty of water soon enough!
ReplyDeleteYour Aloe is lovely. I'm new to this whole stress-your-succulents-for-prettier-colors thing and am loving it. I had some sticks on fire that had lost their glow earlier this Summer but after withholding water and putting them in hot sun, they are flaming again.
Thanks for that, Bria...my sticks of green will soon catch on fire, thanks to you.
DeleteMy sticks on fire stayed in the sun and never lost most of their color, but the aloe faded to a disappointing medium green until I read Debra Baldwin's suggestions. Genius!
DeleteI was feeling like I had entirely too many plants waiting for the shovel, but you have cured me of that misconception...just in time for the swap and Cistus.
ReplyDeleteWe'll all have our work cut out for us after the Swap!
DeleteNo grumbling here, I can sit and enjoy the garden without all the mad watering this time of year. I couldn't wait , I've planted all my new plants, I always think they'll be so much happier in the ground.
ReplyDeleteI can't decide if it is too early to dig up the Acacia , it's been six months, I've had good results with other things in this time , but they were smaller, the Acacia is quite big, five foot ,at least, what do you think?
With today's wind, I'm actually running round with the hose, Linda. I really don't know about the acacia, re digging it now.... for good rooting, you could leave it over winter and I could get it from you in spring. What do you think of that tack?
DeleteImpressive pot ghetto! Mulch Man is going to be busy. I guess in Portland there is no such thing as "a little" rain? In my area "a little" is all we ever we seem to get.
ReplyDeletePot ghetto, haha. I wouldn't take your Portland rain cues from me: I'm simply not a rain-lover and I'd trade cities with you in a heartbeat, Hoover.
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