Glorious Grasses at Hershey Gardens

 Grasses and Chrysanthemums
brought the annual beds at
Hershey Gardens
into fine fall form 
when I visited in early October.

 Graceful Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum') 

starts blooming in July,
but is right at home in the fall garden.

Hardy in zones 9 and 10,

it's grown as an annual here in Pennsylvania.
Like a chameleon, it seems to
adjust to any color scheme.

Purple Fountain Grass hues
blend beautifully with
Tropicanna Canna Lily, while its
feathery form provides great contrast. 

Sky Rocket Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Sky Rocket') is an

interesting variegated variety for a lighter look.

Beginning coppery red blooms of
Morning Light Japanese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light') 
have a kind of a funky spiky flair.
They'll mature into silvery white plumes.
See how this grass is woven into the
rhythm of the gardens here.

Popcorn Plant (Cassia didymobotrya)

not only has an intriguing look,

but enticing aromas as well. 

Its foliage smells like popcorn
when rubbed or moved (truly!).

I love this juxtaposition of

Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris x clandonensis) against

complementary orange mums.

I featured it last year with

Chrysanthemum combinations here .

I was surprised to see Spiderwort (Tradescantia bracteata) flowering. 

Cutting it back after the spring bloom

can encourage this second bloom.

 

Containers were full to overflowing -
early fall's abundance is bittersweet, with
winter waiting just around the corner. 

See more of Hershey Gardens early fall beauty here.

Filling the Frame with Autumn Beauty

I like Gardening Gone Wild's photo contest theme this month - Fill the Frame.

It's tough for me to be disciplined enough to

cut my photos down to the bare minimum. 

To keep only the elements that contribute. 

Sometimes I find the right balance.

I find the heart of the picture...

and zero in on it. 

Find beauty in the 

subtle color and elegant simplicity of form in

Cana Lily leaves.   

Or focus on

feathery fountain grass with a

fiery red echo. 

This is my entry in the contest.

Mums - More Great Combinations.

Chartreuse Creeping Jenny,
bold textured Ornamental Kale
and lavender Chrysanthemum.



Mums are an expected fall show.

Try some of these unexpected combinations to

take your display from ordinary to exceptional.

 

Orange mums paired with

purple petunias that are still going strong

are bold and beautiful.

 

 

 Lavender (Lavandula  angustifolia) and

Columbine (Aguilegia foliage)

hide leggy stems and set off bright mums.

 

Subtle Bluebeard (Caryopteris) flowers 

beautifully set off

orange mums.




Mums are an exclamation point of color to
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) and
Burgundy Wedding Train Coleus.

Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra)

is another stunning grass to pair Chrysanthemums.

 

 

For more Chrysanthemum combos, see Mums - Stunning Combinations

 

 

Enjoy the fall weather and

keep a lookout for

new and interesting ways to

highlight your Chrysanthemums.

 

Happy Gardening!

Chris

www.gardensenses.blogspot.com

Mums - Stunning Combinations

Lime and rose leaves of Caramel Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Caramel')
are a striking accent to burgundy and gold mums.

Chrysanthemums are a fall classic for good reason.

A final flower hurrah, they

keep our yards bright into the fall. 

For a more spectacular display,

combine them with other fall stars.

 


 

Bronze Plumbago foliage (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) and 

Autumn Joy Sedum add depth to

burgundy and gold mums.

 

Black and Blue Salvia (Salvia guarantica 'Black and Blue')

makes a cool counterpart to bright pink mums.



Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomea 'Emerald Lace') adds a

bright foreground to yellow mums.





Deep purple Heliotrope and red mums

are a striking combination.



 

Yellow mums and Marigolds brighten the

fading fall flowers of Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia).



My personal favorite -
a quiet combination of
violet and white mums with
rosy sedum (perhaps Sedum spurium 'Red Carpet'), silver Artemesia,
gray Rose Campion foliage (Lychnis coronaria),
white Sweet Alysum and lavender Aster.

See Mums - More Great Combinations for more ideas. 

Happy Gardening!
Chris
www.gardensenses.blogspot.com