Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Bloom Day September 2015

GBBD_0915
Once again, it's the middle of the month and time for our check-in on what's popping in the garden. After the LONGEST, hottest, driest spring and summer ever here in Portland, the garden is ready for fall...and so am I. Still, the garden has endured and still manages to look decent, for the most part...but I'm re-evaluating some areas and plants for renovation/removal...then again...aren't we all?

persicaria golden arrow
Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' had a hard time this summer, scorching badly and then completely collapsing (which it has never done before). Still, once cooler temps arrived (along with a little moisture) they perked back up again. I admit, I'll give a little extra effort for this one...it's just too pretty to give up!

spent rudbeckai sun
Rudbeckia is such a harbinger of autumn to me...even if it starts blooming in summer. I actually love it most as it just starts to "go over" and the petals wilt into little tutus.

sedums
Of course, September means Sedums...and while I have mixed luck with them, this one area of the garden seems to keep them pretty happy...here we have a mx of 'Matrona' and another, mystery Sedum...perhaps 'Xenox'.

scabiosa scrim
In the same area is one of my absolute favorite plants, Scabiosa ochroleuca...I'm going to add more of these next year...they are so fabulous.

vernonia vertical
Another standout plant that has really come into its own this year is Vernonia 'Southern Cross'...a taller cultivar of the more common 'Iron Butterfly'. It has outstanding form and structure, vivid magenta flowers and gorgeous, fluffy seedheads later.

vernonia southern cross
I think it deserves a second look, don't you?

solidago medusa
Another herald of the changing of seasons is the wonderful Solidago, or Goldenrod. I believe this particular variety is called 'Fireworks' and I love it's crazy medusa-like blooms. Growing up in the Midwest, I loathed Goldenrod as common and weedy...my, how times change ;-)

echinacea past present
If one photo from my garden embodies this time of year, however, it's this of the fading and already gone-to-seed Echinacea. It's a time of both bounty and death...a preamble of Autumn-to-come...and eventually, winter. There is something wonderful about this time of year, even if it's bittersweet. The garden has done it's job and is now preparing to slumber while the gardener sharpens his tools and prepares to dig into fall chores (bulb planting...yes!).

north strip v3
I know, reading back through this, that I've missed a handful of plants, but I'm sure they'll appear in a few of these wider shots...here, the North Border looking west, dominated by the statuesque Eutrochium.

north corner wider
And here, the same border looking east, fronted by a micro meadow of Panicum 'Cheyenne Sky', punctuated with Liatris and Allium.

front garden shady2
Here we have the Front Border, as always, anchored by 'Tiger Eyes' Sumac and Miscanthus 'Malepartus'.

front border shady
And the Front Border looking north...again, with 'Tiger Eyes' dominating and a scattering of containers extending the beds...although, truth be told, this year they are more temporary homes for wayward plants that I haven't decided the fate of yet!

corner view
And here's a wide shot of everything...I still can't believe we just painted the house this spring...I can hardly remember what it looked like before!

punky the puma
Of course, we can't leave without saying hello to the furry denizens of Rhone Street, can we? Here' Punky Cat lounging on the sidewalk, wondering when I'll stop taking pictures and give him some treats.

IMG_7327
Little Gordon, who is feeling better again, enough so that she now wants to go outside all the time (supervised, of course.)

sleepy boots 1
And dear Boots...who is sleeping away the last days of summer, dreaming, I'm sure, of flannel sheets, sleeping with the windows wide open, and pumpkin-flavored everything. Oh wait, that's me ;-)

Happy Bloom day...and as always, head over the May Dreams Gardens for more!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Fall Plant Sales!

fall plant sale header
As many of you are well away, fall is the best time for planting...especially here in the PNW. I stupidly often plant a lot in the spring, and then spend the entire summer (especially this awful, godforsaken summer) cursing that I spend all my free time watering newly-planted plants.

standing ovation
Fall is perfect for planting here, however, as our (hopefully) plentiful autumn rains and cooler temps are great for new plants settling in and putting down good root systems. Luckily for us here in the Portland area, we have not one but TWO plant sales this weekend (On Saturday, September 12, to be exact)!

sedum and scabiosa
Unfortunately, they both happen on the same day (when it rains, it pours, right?), but a dedicated plantaholic can probably make it to both. First up (if you want to see the speaker) is the HPSO PlantFest, held, as has become tradition of the past two years, at PCC Rock Creek Campus. Speaker Claudia West will give a presentation titled "Stunning Ecological Plant Combinations", which I'm pretty curious to see.

northwind h
A brief description from the HPSO website says: "Plants are the foundation of healthy ecosystems and they bring beauty and joy to our lives. But great plants alone don't automatically create "ecological" benefits in our gardens. Claudia West, ecological sales manager at North Creek Nurseries, premier wholesale perennial grower in Landenberg, PA, talks about spectacular perennials and grasses and how to use them in stable, layered, natural combinations that increase both the ornamental and ecological value of your home landscape. Claudia is co-author of a new book, Planting in a Post-Wild World, with landscape architect Thomas Rainer, to be published this fall by Timber Press."

echinacea fading away
Immediately following the lecture, the plant shopping commences for those attending the speech. For those not attending the speech, the doors for the sale open at 11 and run until 2pm. Happily, parking is plentiful and FREE! I can't wait to see what the vendors have brought...I usually end up buying way more at this sale than I do at Hortlandia...just because I tend to gravitate towards plants that peak during fall.

solidago medusa
Next up is the Salem Hardy Plant Society's Plant Sale, which is held, as usual, at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall...just west of Salem.

vertical vernonia 2
Like the above HPSO sale, there are always a lot of great vendors with beautiful plants just waiting for new homes (maybe even MY home)!


echinops sunset
In addition to plants, the Salem Sale has Master Gardener Advisors, Tool Sharpening by Edgemaster, Plastic Pot Recycling and a variety of decorative and useful garden accessories.

september sunset echinacea
So, what just do I hope to find/pick up? Well...rather a lot, but in light of recent vet bills...I'm going to be taking it easy this year...as my plant budget is pretty much shot for the rest of 2015! However, I'm always on the hunt for new grasses, so might be tempted if something too good to pass up shows up. Also, I've been toying with the idea of replacing most of the Agastaches in my parking strips with more durable Liatris. I remember last year at the Salem sale I passed up some really beautiful Liatris and totally regretted it later.

grassy sunset
Either way, I hope everyone who lives in the area can make it to the sale...you'll probably see me at them both...probably with a huge cup of coffee to keep me going during such a packed day!

panicum shenandoah
What about you...are you planning on going to one or both? What are you looking/searching for...and what do you have planned for your fall garden?

boots at dusk
Here's to happy plant-shopping...from Boots and I ;-)