Painted Pumpkins

 

  Definitely not your

Grandmother's pumpkins!

 

Decorating pumpkins is a beloved tradition in our home.
The typical jack-o-lantern is our usual style.

But this year,
my daughter thought it would be fun to

do something a bit different.

How about
painting our pumpkins?

 

After some research on Pinterest,
and a bit of inspiration from blogs
(check them out here, here and here),

we were ready get creative.

 

  

 Using painters tape as a guide,

we traced our lines in pencil.

Next, spray and acrylic paint

created the designs.

We then sealed the acrylic paint
before adding
puff paint accents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Painted pumpkins.

A whimsical take on an

old tradition.

 

 

Gaura and Grasses

Gaura may not be spectacular on its own,

but paired with grasses,

and it fairly shines in the fall. 

One sunny October day, 

these gentle star like blooms

cradled in feathery grasses

caught my attention as I drove by. 

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)

does a good job of supporting

Gaura's (Gaura lindheimeri) sprawling stems,

its soft fronds contrasting

the bright blossoms. 

Gaura is hardy in zones 6 - 9, 

 but doesn't always winter reliably. 

Requiring good drainage,

it tolerates some drought.

Gaura likes sun or partial shade.

It will reseed if spent blooms are left on the plants.

Gaura has a long bloom time,

from late spring to fall.

Though I pass this garden a couple of times a week,

I didn't notice it until the fall, when

other flowers faded, making way for

Gaura to move into the spotlight.

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum') and

Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis),

shimmer in autumn light and

complete the scene.

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.

Stunning Salvias at Hershey Gardens

The annual beds of Hershey Gardens were

in their glory at the beginning of October.
We had a beautiful, blustery day to
wind our way through the still colorful gardens.
The blooming grasses added their dynamic dimension, 
but they'll have to wait for another post.

For now I'll focus on annuals, and
give Salvias first billing
as the major stars of the show for me.

Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' was in gorgeous bloom. 

Hardy to zone 7, it's grown as an annual here in zone 6.

Hot pink Wendy's Wish Sage (Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' - hardy to zone 9)
brings up the rear with dramatic color.
A new variety, I read that part of its
proceeds go to the
Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The casual tangle of
pink Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
provides a nice contrast to the vibrant spikes. 

 

Deep Purple Sage
(middle left - Salvia splendens 'Vista Purple' - tender perennial zones 11a-12b) 
and Wax Begonias
weave waves of color into this
pink and blue tapestry.

The Hershey Chocolate Factory is visible to the right in the background. 
The historic property, where the chocolate company began, has recently been sold, its operations to be relocated to a modern plant. 
The iconic symbol in the heart of town will be missed. 

Black and Blue Salvia (Salvia gauranitica 'Black and Blue' - hardy to zone 8),
is another striking member of the family.
Its electric blue color is set off by black stems and calyces 

 

I was taken by the dramatic

Cock's Comb Flamingo (Celosia spicata),

a new annual to me. 

A bit gangly in form,it looks suited to the
rear of a bed with fronting plants providing a "skirt".

 

Mexican Bush Sage

(left foreground - Salvia leucantha 'Cislano' - hardy to zone 8),

is a luscious rich pink-purple color

with a kind of free wheeling habit.

It's easy to see why it's also called Velvet Sage.

I've always loved annual Salvia and am determined to

branch out and try some of these varieties.

Enjoy these glorious the days of early fall,

full of color and life.

Fall Fruit

 Foliage isn't the only fall color option - 

berries are another highlight.

I spotted these fruit bearers in my area,

which can broaden and lengthen fall interest in your garden.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa), with

jewel-like berry clusters

is a unique ornament in the fall garden.

The bright berries of Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) 

follow crimson fall foliage.

Chokeberry foliage

 

Chokeberry berries

Tiny Cotoneaster berries (left front)
echo burgundy flowers of
Autumn Joy Sedum.

   Firethorn (Pyracantha) has a wild and wooly form...

but can be tamed into a uniform shape by pruning.

 Its name hints at the thorns that make maintenance a challenge.

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina), has showy fruit to complement its fall foliage color.

Be aware that Heavenly Bamboo is considered invasive in southeastern US - 

see Invasive Plant Atlas.

In early fall, winterberry's fruit (Ilex verticilata) 

peeks meekly from between the leaves,

...but grabs our attention once the leaves are gone.

Winterberry

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is typically a dioecious plant.

Female plants produce blue-grey fruit if a male plant is present for pollination.

'Myriman' is a male pollinator, while 'Morton' (Silver Sprite) is a female fruiting clone.

Hollies (Ilex) also require a male pollinator for females to bear fruit.

Hollies (Ilex) also require a male pollinator for female plants to bear fruit. 

Yellow crabapple berries dazzle in the sun.

Malus 'Hozam' Holiday Gold, is a variety that bears yellow fruit.

Many crabapples bear red fruit.

A weeping crabapple (perhaps Malus x scheideckeri 'Red Jade') 

is dripping with red "gems".

\

Winter King Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis 'Winter King')

has great winter presence with vivid red berries.

Bright Winter King Hawthorn berries

So much color just waiting to be appreciated!

For more color ideas, see 

Fall Foliage Shrubs and Trees.

For even more amazing fall colors, 

see The Fall Color Project.