I Should Have Planted the Rest of the Bulbs

But, I didn't. Just too darn nice outside. It reached 20C today - just perfect. Even put my garden sweater on, but then decided I'd just grab my camera and take a few photos.

Here's another Carex, C. grayii. I find that it looks a little coarse in the spring and there were several springs where it had looked completely battle-weary. In fact, I thought it was toast on a couple of occasions. But am kind of happy it's just fine. Had never seen such good seed heads on it. Sort of an aha moment, "Now I understand this plant." Think this may be Frosted Curls - good colour.

Does this not say, "Barbara get out your glue gun! It's pine cone presents for everyone!"

They were warning people on the Burlington Skyway that the high winds were dangerous. What do you suppose that means? Be sure to pack a life preserver in case you're plucked from the hideously high bridge and tossed into Lake Ontario. Finding that moment to capture the fall crocus was tricky - they were blowing everywhere.....very pretty.

This is a seed head from a perennial geranium - name escapes me. Got it from Belinda at Triffids - the plant itself doesn't get too big and self seeds in a well mannered fashion.

The only Barberry I've got in my garden. The berries are just so wonderfully shiny.

I am really having fun examining the clematis seed heads. I think these look like mohair.

What a nice Erodium, blooming it's little brains out, with more to come.

Again, more clematis seed-heads.

More totally cool clematis seed-heads.

And one more.

Archer Arrives on Monday

Just got the news that we're to foster a Guide Dog poodle puppy named Archer starting on Monday. His real foster parents are headed off for a month-long trip to New Zealand. He's 4 months old and white. Big Warning......Get ready for lots of puppy pictures!

Headed outside to see if there was anything on this blue-lips day to see what's what. Stumbled upon the bird bath full of leaves. It will come in tomorrow. Look at that splendid blackspot on that pretty yellow maple leaf.

Going to have to work harder to capture this wacko seed head from one of my mystery grab-bag clematis. The wind was fierce and I really think that with a bit of work, there's a much better shot there.

A+ for Carex - what a wonderful, dependable grass for the shade. Yes, I know it's not tall, and sexy with lots of seed-heads this time of year. But look, no insect damage. It's growing when it should be resting, how can you not like this good grass?

Here are two more varieties of Carex - Ice Dancer on the left.

Who knew that 'Lady in Red' Athyrium wore white underpants? With everything else so lovely in yellow, red, brown and orange, her background leaf colour really stands out.

Here's a plant I really would recommend - although in warmer climates, I'm not too sure how invasive it would be. Saruma henryi - note the resemblance to ginger Asarum (and how they've goofilly changed the letters arround to make saruma). Nice unusual yellow flowers that are held right at the centre of the heart of the leaf.

Here's Paul's Glory - looking not too bad with Winchester, Agatha & Ansel Adams headstone. No doubt after today's cold the leaves will have completely collapsed.

Stay tuned for puppy pictures in the garden. I guess I better enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts.

TWTW - So Here Are Some Walk Photos

Good day for chores: sent off money to the Federal Government - a task that cheers me to my very bones, a card dropped in the mail to a friend with surgery on the horizon, express mailed my scarf to Kathryn Hall, grocery shopped and soon, I'll be putting on some short ribs to slow cook. All this and no garden work, because it's just too wet to work in the garden today.

But, what's a fall blog without some new pretty photos. So, without further ado, here are my photos from yesterdays stroll to 16 Mile Creek.

Understory Plants in the Golden Fall Light

Was head down, hard at work when I looked up and saw the sky had turned from grey to blue - the light was exceptional. Saw little woodpeckers dancing up and down my big old ash and cardinals hopping about - that was my sign to abandon my desk and go outside camera in hand. Took a shot of the neighbourhood so you could see just how much green we still have.

I've been trying for days to capture the Mist Flower - invasive, but completely worth it - Eupatorium colestinum (blue coloured and blooms in the fall) and it's cousin Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' (named for the leaves not the flowers). You'd walk by these plants and never know they're related - it's only now looking at the flowers closeup that I really see the resemblance.

The Hydrangea quercifolia is so wonderful. So few of the hydrangeas we can grow here have leaves that colour so well.

Just next to the hydrangea is a Calycanthus florida - growing at the very tip of its range - the leaves are an exceptional yellow. It takes a fair bit of shade and dry being under an eastern white pine.

The threadleaf Japanese Maple is probably at its best today - in the next day or so it will be twigs sitting in a puddle of crimson orange leaves.

And can you get over the Hydrangea 'Lemon Wave' sending up a pure white stem. There's just a little bit of yellow on the edge of the odd leaf - very, very weird.

3rd Degree Murder in the Garden

Why didn't I look at this spring's photos to see where all the other pretty bulbs were planted? Why didn't I pause before I lifted up my trusty spade and plunge it into the heart of these lovely Allium? Because I thought I knew where they were and I was intoxicated at the idea of Ballerina tulips - a saucy orange lily style tulip that I knew would be so beautiful next to these purple allium.

I knew I'd made a horrific mistake when I smelled the scent of onions - and looked down to see them - formerly round and whole - now in pieces. I doubt my muttering of "sorry, sorry, sorry" as I shoveled bits of soil and allium back into the hole will make much difference.

The Garden has Taken a Giant Leap into Fall

The weather really has been quite benevolent up until yesterday. And today, although we were spared the snow that they got an hour north of here, the garden is a pure reflection of that cold and wind. Stocks and leaves that had stood so upright and strong just days ago have collapsed overnight with the freeze and thaw. Things I'd waited to cut back because they were so pretty, now have textures that mush when I apply the clippers.

On the less gooey side of things, the seed heads are just wonderful; the leaf colours more intense; and the grass will soon get its final cut for the year - leaving lots of time for planting the bulbs I picked up on Monday...all 500 of them.

Time to Put the Banana to Bed

I grew this Musa glauca from seed several years ago. Supposedly hardy, I sacrificed his sister to the winds and snow to find out just how tough she was and sadly found absolutely nothing in her place the following spring. Hardy in the land of ice and snow is a relative term.

For those of you who like to grow bananas, but don't have a tonne of inside room, I have found that this method has worked well for me over the last 3 years or so:

Dig up the plant.

Remove all but the top leaf.

Shake off quite a bit of soil.

Dump in a brown paper refuse bag.

Store in basement until first frost free day.

Take outside.

Stick in garden and watch it start to grow all over again.

The only note of caution is that Musa glauca stains terribly - it is impossible to remove the dark brown sap stains from clothing. I tried this storage method with tinier plants and did not have as much success - although the poor things were sitting next to the furnace all winter - I suspect cooking them would be considered a poor horticultural practice.

Blooms Day

Thanks to Carol of May Dreams (http://www.maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/) for hosting this Blooms Day. My offerings are a little meagre this time of year....it really did bring home that the gardening season is more or less over when I was scouting plants for their close-up. But, without further ado - my first blooms day:

One of the longest blooming perennials is this Symphyandra hoffmanii - a great big euuwww for the slug trail up and down the plant - and a great big round of applause - no slug damage - clever plant.

A nice little clematis grown from a package of mixed seed. Not the brightest blooms, but it is blooming!

The easier to grow single purple autumn crocus disappeared several years ago - but this nice little white double is doing just fine.

Some years I miss this Allium bloom entirely - forget to go out to see it bloom - note to self - put closer to front door.

Frostfire Phlox - still blooming - with only a bit of mildew - longest blooming perennial this season.

Talinum - grew from seed 4 years ago & has reliably self-seeded.


















































Rudbeckia Cappuccino with mildew. I'd grow this again in a heart-beat!




Lovely volunteer of goldenrod - yes, I've got to seriously keep it in hand, but for a blast of yellow this time of year - what could be better?




















The Easter Grocery Store Hydrangea circa 1997 - started out blue - now various shades of pink/purple and goodness knows what.
















Seedheads of more cool grab-bag clematis.





















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Echinacea purpureum 'Alba' - a thrip-like insect really had a time with these - so surprised to see this lone blossom - more mildew too!



A mini-buddleia I'm trialing Lo and Behold Blue Chip - to be sold for pots - doing very well in the mixed border.






The agastache with just a touch of blue/purple left in the seed heads.

Banana covered in Eastern White Pine needle shed - can you hear it scream, "What are you waiting for? Take me inside!"

Tricyrtis 'Lightning Strike' (I think). Am photographically challenged with these plants & I've got 7 varieties. One day I'll really capture their beauty.

I know, more leaves than blooms - but they are a great colour.

A calamagrostis - can't remember which one - with a long suffering PeeGee that has been standardized - (it was that or the trash) that has always acted like a slightly embarrassed dog with a bad haircut.

The last bloom of another grocery store hibiscus that probably wants to be living anywhere else but here.