The sight of frost this morning was jarring.
The autumn sun so low, feeling like I could swat it if I had a running start.
While I could see winter sneakily approaching through my back woods, autumn is all like “I ain’t going anywhere yet.”
I wish morning frost was available year round. It beautifully outlines the leaves and stems.
This is only one reason why we don’t cut down the perennials until spring.
We are in peak fall garden time right now:
As if we needed another reason to love on Panicum ‘Northwind’, look at that golden fall color. Phenomenal.
Grasses. Yeah.
Hydrangea and Panicum.
Andropogon (Big Bluestem) ‘Red October’
Schizachyrium (Little Bluestem) ‘Blue Heaven’
Pennisetum ‘Hameln’
Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’, I think. Missed this one on the spreadsheet a few years back.
Amsonia hubrichtii. Not quite in peak fall form yet.
Fothergilla ‘Mt. Airy’ emerging between an endless collection of you guessed it, ornamental grasses.
Ninebark ‘Diablo’ showing its first signs of decay. Albeit a good decay.
The fall color on Geranium ‘Brookside’ is underrated.
Red Maple ‘October Glory’ in all its … October … glory.
Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’ making the turn towards leaf drop time.
And finally, Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox) with a subtle yet impactful foliage change that reminds me we are in the home stretch every time I walk out of my front door.
QOTD: What is the most underrated fall foliage star in your garden?
After a morning of panic because my son slept through two alarms and then awe at his ability to shower, shave, get dressed and eat breakfast in 7 minutes and then seeing him off to the high school bus after ensuring there were no clowns hanging at the edge of the woods with Snickers bars, I grabbed my camera and took the following photos.
Hope you enjoy.
A few photos of the garden as she undergoes the full transformation to autumn.
I enjoy it …
… reluctantly.
Two straight days of nothing but rain here in central NJÂ and so I did what every warm blooded middle aged man would do … I took rainy day garden photos. Always a fun time and proof positive that my garden writing/photography days are still hanging around.
Here’s how things are looking outside right now, all sorts of wonderfully brown and dreary and upliftingly depressing.
Bit cold out there this morning. Enjoy some frost photos from out in the garden.
True story.
I had this post completed about ten minutes ago.
And then I deleted it.
Because it sucked.
So now you are reading version 2.0. I don’t know if it’s any better, but it is definitely more real.
I hope I’m not coming across as whiny with my series of posts the past few months. I realize we are not dealing with a life and death situation here (although somewhat debatable … couldn’t resist). I know things could be much worse.
But the uncertainty of our situation with this proposed pipeline makes it so difficult to not only relax, but concentrate on anything else. There are meetings to attend each week, reading material to absorb and official letters to read, interpret and interpret again. Keeping active does the mind well but it is during the down time when the brain starts to wander and wonder.
Originally I had written a whimsical post about the onset of fall and pieced together what I thought were the different phases of autumn as it pertains to the garden. It felt insincere when I went back to read and edit it, so without much thought, I deleted it all. It didn’t work and needed to go.
I haven’t felt whimsical in a long time and it felt dishonest to pretend to be so now. This blog has always had a lighter tone and hopefully some day it will return to that. That was how I felt at the time and I’ve come to realize that I’m only capable of writing in a manner that matches my mood.
That mood today is one of uncertainty. And as I photographed the garden in its current autumn state, I found myself desperately wanting fall to stick around. I am so dreading the dark and cold and dreary winter. I’ve come to realize that my garden is in its peak in fall and I just want it to stay that way for a long ass time.
So with that inspiring set-up (haven’t lost the sarcasm a bit) here are the bittersweet photos of my autumn garden.
Little bit of every color here.
This shot represents the onset of fall with the fall colors of the Itea (Sweetspire) ‘Henry’s Garnet’ and Clethra (Summersweet) but with summer still hanging around with the never say die Petunias in the background.
Spent flowers just about ready to throw in the towel.
The richness in color and texture is evident here and damn I wish I could hit the “pause” button.
Subtle changes on other plants warn of it what is to come.
My beloved grasses are all like “Sorry dude, we can only hold up for so long.”
Flame grass is literally on fire and I can’t take my eyes off  of it.
And some are blooming (Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’) and some are on their way out (Clethra and Joe Pye Weed).
Yes, autumn has officially arrived and I will just have to accept it.
Sigh …
It may be in the high 70’s/low 80’s today, but judging by the current state of the garden, the fall has been here for a while now. And I have to admit, it looks freakin incredible.
Whether I like it or not, I realize that the Fall brings out the best in my own garden. Ornamental grasses are the focal point/star-of-the-show right now and as you may know, I like me some grasses.
Throw in some blooming perennials, fading-in-a-good-way plants, foliage changes on shrubs, some much needed rain and cooler weather and you have a recipe for some stunning views.
Here is the latest out in my garden:
Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ still blooming after multiple pruning attempts, Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ and Micanthus purpurascens (Flame Grass).
Dwarf sneezeweed and Micanthus purpurascens (Flame Grass).
Dwarf sneezeweed and Amsonia (Bluestar).
Panicum (Switch Grass) ‘Northwind’, Itea (Sweetspire) ‘Henry’s Garnet’ and Clethra (Summersweet).
Red Twig Dogwood and Physocarpus (Ninebark) ‘Diablo’.
A different view of the prior mentioned plants.
Pennisetum ‘Hameln’ and Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) ‘Gateway’.
Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) and Boltonia (False Aster).
Amsonia (Bluestar) and Physostegia (Obedient Plant) ‘Vivid’.
Where did the time go?
I have a hard time letting go of the summer, the heat, the well earned sweat and the longer days. The stark reality of winter can force me into the fetal position. No matter how hard I try, I cannot deal.
But you knew that already.
Before that reality sets in however, I do truly cherish the fall for oodles of reasons. And we are right on the cusp as we speak. The current state of the garden tells me that.
Last night I tried to take some photos of the “just about autumn” garden from angles I typically forget to enjoy. Here are just a few for your viewing pleasure. To the shock of no one, you’ll notice all are anchored by the ornamental grass.
