Monday, October 29, 2012

Crazy beautiful


Mealy blue sage (Salvia farinacea)
We are experiencing a crazy beautiful fall, with perfect temperatures and rain at appropriate intervals. Maximilian sunflowers, palafoxia, broomweed and asters are decorating the roadsides.  

Here on the hill, my flowers are looking pretty spiffy, too. In fact, things look about as good here as they ever get, so I thought I would share some pictures.


Four-nerve daisies (Tetraneuris scaposa)
in front, Gregg's mistflower (Conoclinum 
greggii) behind.

Fall and spring are the best gardening seasons in Central Texas. The rain and the temperatures are moderate . . .  except when they're not. Trees have not started losing leaves yet, but the first good front arrived over the weekend, and we've been in the lower 40s for the past several nights. We’re sure to see some fall color soon!

My pride and joy right now is the east bed. I envisioned this as a cottage bed, overflowing with blooms of less xeric plants since it gets afternoon shade and has deeper soil.  Well, the shade is late in the day arriving and I am not willing/able to water as much as cottage plants desire. You may recall that one year this area suffered chicken depredations, and Iris the dog periodically decides she must excavate immediately and deeply. This bed has never lived up to my expectations.

Until now.

East bed! From left:  rock rose (Pavonia lasiopetala), Gomphrena globosa 'Fireworks,'
white and purple trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis), bachelor buttons (Gomphrena globosa),
purple morning glories. Black and blue salvia (Salvia guaranitca 'Black and Blue')
and some sort of gaura ('Whirling Butterflies'?) are in the back.
I believe I have finally come up with a good combination of flowering plants that can withstand the heat and moisture conditions, yet still give me the cottage feel I wanted for this area. Hurrah!

The next frontier: blackfoot daisies (Melampodium leucanthum), rock rose and fall aster
(Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, I think) with a volunteer Lindheimer muhly (Muhlembergia linheimeri).
Many flame acanthus (Anisicantus quadrifidus var. wrightii) grow here, also, but aren't blooming now.

My new pond, with turk's cap (Malvaviscus 
arboreus var. drummondii). Do you see
the goldfish and happy water plant?

Looking out my window, I have identified the next frontier. Out front is a wild area, where we do not mow. I’ve planted a few things, and a few others have self-sowed. There is such a profusion of blooms that I’ve decided to take it to the next level, cleaning out weeds and grass so those volunteers can spread and thrive.

There’s nothing better than a new garden area to plan. That’s what beautiful weather and conditions will do to a gardener – provide inspiration for the next project!





Rock rose, black dalea (Dalea frutescens), yucca,
and autumn sage behind.












From the left, zexmenia (Wedelia texana), pigeonberry (Rivina humilis), white mistflower
(Ageratina havanensis - behind about to burst into bloom), fall aster, dayflower (Commelina erecta),
bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa), and more zexmenia.

I hope you are enjoying a crazy beautiful fall in your garden!


6 comments:

  1. It all looks good.
    You seem to be able to grow things is areas I'm thinking the deer invade, that our deer will eat in a heartbeat. We jut have too many deer!

    These chilly mornings have been great. And, those fall wildflowers have been great, too.

    I think fall is my favorite season.

    And, your porch looks like a wonderful place to just sit and enjoy the view.



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The deer do not get too close to our house, generally. Maybe it's because of the dog on the porch who loves to chase them!

      The porch is a great place for enjoying a beautiful fall day, that's for sure!

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  2. I agree with Linda - it all looks good! Your east bed is so very nice, and I like what you've done with your new pond. And the last picture is just beautiful. I love everything in that photo.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, HG, and thanks for stopping by! I'm sure fall is just as beautiful in your neck of the woods!

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  3. Such a different landscape, rugged and very like I do think of Texas, although I know its a huge state with much variety. I love the stonework Cynthia, and your cottage bed is beautiful, with fall blooms and green! You should see my gardens today, after about a week of torrential rain, leaves wallpapered to the ground, any residual blooms moldy...grayness of wet winter taking over everything! Keep up the good work :)

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  4. Finally the East Bed lives up to its potential! Very nice!
    Really love the dalea and yucca bed. All of your garden shows a wonderfully restrained editing, only as much as is needed to reveal the beauty of color and shape, while retaining the natural grace.

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