sedum autumn joy — Blog — Hortus

In anticipation of our first snow, I surveyed the garden to see what I would see. Camera in tow, I headed down the stairs in the blustery wind and rain. What would possess me? Not exactly sure, but this I know for sure: I am driven by a strange desire to visit my plants– no matter what time of year. I have developed a profound connection with the plants.

Most perennials have been cut back to the ground and the trees and shrubs are now in complete focus. What do I see? Decline. Decay. Deterioration. Yet in the midst of this seasonal decomposition, a bit of steadfast determination has caught my eye. Possibility. Optimism. Is this a metaphor for hope?

Tiny buds wait patiently.

Cones cling tightly.

Green is ever so green.

The seasons of one’s life are really no different than those of the garden. Some seasons transition beautifully from one to another. Others are harsh and relentless. Like a garden, one must have a little expectation of better days to come. A stoic bud ready to open when inclement seasons have passed– a garden is life, filled with patience and hope.

Despite the dreary cold day which brought rain, thunder and lighting, the sun also shown near the afternoon’s final hours. Tonight will bring snow and a whole new crystallized palette for the garden.

And I, I will wait patiently.

So, here we are. It’s officially fall and not much is blooming, at least not in my garden. I do have a couple of things to share though. We’ve had two frosts and temps in the lower 30s already, but despite these two occurrences, the Geraniums (annual and perennial) are still blooming. Above, the pink flower is an annual from the Caliente Geranium series (Geranium Pelargonium). What I love about this variety, aside from its blooming power, is the semi-trailing habit. It’s perfect for containers where you need a little ‘spill’ action over the sides. I’ve deconstructed my summer pots already, but could not bring myself to get rid of these beauties.

Pictured above, Rozanne Geranium was a plant I kept my eye on all season at the garden center. I was told that this particular plant was a prolific bloomer and would bloom till a hard killing frost. As the season went on, the plants in pots indeed kept blooming. We sold them by the hundreds and my curiosity got the best of me. In late September, I finally took the plunge and purchased five plants to try in my own garden. True to form, they have kept blooming. Wayside Gardens calls this plant “The Geranium of the Millennium!” The blooms are brilliant and seem to glow in the garden beds. I plan to line the sunny area below the Juniper (pictured below) if the plants survive our Zone 5 & 6 winter.

Even from a distance, the five small Rozanne Geranium have a presence. Imagine what they’ll look like when they mature. If all goes well, I will add up to six more plants to this area.

Earlier this spring I planted one Heptacodium miconioides– a large fountain-shaped, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub. The common name of this shrub is Seven-Son Flower. The blooms are actually white (in September), but more interesting than that are the small purplish-red fruits that follow. They are crowned by five showy, sepal-like pink calyces that elongate after the bloom. They last into late fall. In winter, this shrub’s tan bark will exfoliate and reveal an attractive brown inner bark. It was only recently that I learned this plant is native to China. Unknowingly, I somehow always gravitate to plants whose origins are Asian.

Ok, technically not a bloom, the foliage of Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow is so showy that I had to include it in this post. I have a couple of favorite plants this year, and this one ranks right up there. As the temperatures have cooled, the tips of the foliage have taken on reddish-pink tones. I’m making it a point to learn more about Euphorbia this winter.

Sedum Autumn Joy is always a fall favorite. The large mass by the creek bank is always beautiful this time of year. The blooms have started turning their tell tale color of deep bronzy-red.

Looking back at the house from the creek, it’s hard to believe that summer is finally over. The fall rains have created a verdant lawn which compliments the onset of autumnal tones in the trees.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is a Meme created by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Gardeners post images of what’s blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. To see what’s blooming all over the world today, visit Carol’s blog.