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 Flowers

Chrysanthemums are an obvious

fall flower choice,

but there are other options to

to keep the show going.

 

Fall Asters like Aster 'Little Carlow' make a nice walk edging.

These look fine against a stone wall and broadleaf evergreen backdrop.

 

 

 

Asters pair nicely with Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida (a Blackeyed Susan variety), which blooms later than Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullvantii 'Goldsturm'.

 



 

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Plumbago) is a low growing perennial. 

Pretty blue blooms begin in mid to late summer. 

 

As the blooms fade in the fall, the leaves turn a pleasing crimson.


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' (Firetail Knotweed) is a vigorous grower,

but not invasive like the species. 

Its unique blooms are effective from summer until frost.



 

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is another fall classic.

It's effective all season long, but

comes into its glory in the fall,

when rosy pink blooms turn to deep magenta.   

 

 

The clear blue flowers of

Bluebeard shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Heavenly Blue')
are set off by orange mums.


 

Japanese Anemone
(Anemone x hybrida)
is a beautiful addition to the
late summer and fall garden.

 

 Don't forget Pansies,

which enjoy
cool fall weather.

Solidago x 'Golden Fleece' is a
low growing Goldenrod, with a height of only 12-18".

 

Gently nodding panicles of Fireworks Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks')

are relaxed next to the

rigid leaves of Siberian Iris.

 

Goldenrod (Solidgo) is most at home in a naturalized planting -

here it makes a spectacular show with Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis)

 

 

 

Enjoy the fall blooms while they last!

 

For more fall flowers, see:

Mums - Stunning Combinations

Mums - More Great Combinations

Autumn Joy Sedum - All Season Performer

 

Happy Gardening!

Chris

www.gardensenses.blogspot.com

 

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