November Ramblings

So far this November has been warm  and some what dry.  I enjoy looking at the garden this time of year stripped down to its bones. The lushness of summer hides many flaws. The oakleaf hydrangea is one of the last shrubs to change color and the leaves were especially beautiful encased in an early morning frost.  This time of year the less glamorous, but still important work takes place in the garden such as putting pots away, screening compost, pruning trees etc.   I will be cleaning leaves out of the beds until snow falls, but overall the garden is in good shape going into winter.

My wife and I took advantage of a beautiful day to work on garden cleanup.  The wind and rain yesterday brought down a lot of the leaves which will end up in the compost pile. While cleaning up the garden my thoughts turn to spring and changes that will be made.  Many of the beds are over due for a makeover.  One of my favorite plants is our native witchhazel (Hamaelis viginiana) which is blooming now. All the other species of witchhazel bloom from late winter to early spring. The plant in my garden has larger and fuller flowers than the ones I see growing in nearby woods.   Fothergilla gardenii or dwarf fothergilla is another native shrub that lights up the fall landscape with its yellow to orange leaves which change color after most plants have already drop their leaves . Both the witchhazel and fothergilla (which are members of the same family) bring color into the garden late in the season.

We had close to three inches of rain on Saturday! The bulbs that I planted should be well watered. Years ago I planted a threeflowered maple (Acer triflorum) in the back corner of the garden. During the summer it blends in with the rest of the greenery but once fall arrives this maple lights up the lower garden with its brilliant orange leaves. The threeflowered maple also has exfoliating bark which gives it winter interest. A Japanese maple next to my formal water feature is also putting on a quite a show this year. I bought this thread leaf variety many years ago from a box store and it has developed into a beautiful specimen in its sheltered location.

We finally got a killing frost Saturday night. I spent Sunday bringing in the last of the tropicals and doing garden cleanup. As I cut back the garden I started to think about changes for next year. Certain areas have become too crowded and will need a total overhaul in the spring. My next big project is to plant the bulbs which arrived last week. Most of these are minor bulbs which will be scattered throughout the garden for early color. Many of the trees and shrubs that I have planted over the years give a great show in the fall. One that is particularly beautiful now is Disanthus cercidifolius which is a member of the witch hazel family. This hard to find plant from Japan seems to me to be one of the best for fall color with its red to purple leaves.

We are finally getting a soaking rain which should perk up what is left of the garden. This September has been one of the driest on record. I will start cutting back some perennials this week to get a head start on fall cleanup. Most of the potted plants have been put away but I have left some plants in the ground that still look good. The combination of Colocasia 'Black Magic' and Mirabilis 'Lime Light' with purple verbena in the lower garden has worked out beautifully.

Over the weekend the temperature dropped down into the mid thirties at night so I started bringing in my tender plants. The greenhouse is almost full and soon my wife and I will start lugging the rest into the house. The hardest part is carrying the plants down into the basement where they are stored in the plant room until spring. Kathy keeps reminding me that going up and down the stairs is good exercise. It is always such a relief when the last plant is brought in.

Abelmoschus manihot

Growing over six feet tall this annual with hibiscus like flowers is a wonderful addition to the late summer garden. Abelmoschus manihot is actually a member of the okra family and is easy to grow in good soil with full sun. The flowers which last only a day are a beautiful pale yellow with a dark center. Every year I plant Abelmoschus manihot at our local public garden where I volunteer. They are planted in front of red leaved cannas which make a great backdrop for the flowers. The plants produce large amounts seed which are easily started indoors.