November Backyard
Among the many daydreams of our latest backyard adventures in England is the true life backyard at house right here at Chickadee Gardens. Earlier than I delve right into a deep Nice Dixter daydream for the subsequent couple of posts (the final place we visited in England), I need to cease for a second and admire my very own backyard in full-color swing proper now. We’ve got been working so laborious on it and it looks like it’s knitting collectively little by little, lastly. Right here then is our little nook of the world in early November.Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’ has had a reasonably good run with its autumn coloration. I prefer it juxtaposed with the emerald inexperienced of Hebe ‘Karo Golden Esk’.An absolute favourite for foliage coloration is Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’. Its early summer season flowers are white pipe cleaners with fairly vivid inexperienced foliage. In late October it turns to this, sensible cranberry shades and sometimes holds onto its foliage via winter.Even Calycanthus has just a little coloration. Subsequent to it’s Berberis jamesiana and its coral coloured berries. Its foliage will flip colours in a few weeks.Spiraea betulifolia in golden and crimson shades.Stewartia pseudocamellia altering colours within the heart. That is the sting of the western woodland backyard. Earlier this autumn FM took up the sod beneath this nook and added wooden chips as a mulch. It appears lots higher.A wide range of deciduous shrubs turning coloration within the western woodland. Amongst them are Hydrangea quercifolia, Rosa foliolosa, Spiraea betulifolia, Cornus sericea ‘Hedgerows Gold’ and Viburnum ellipticum.Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Blue Feathers’ with Viburnum opulus var. americanum behind it. This coloration mixture is one I actually admire, powder blue with shades of crimson.Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Early Amethyst’ including a punch of vibrant coloration to the western woodland.Trying up the driveway with the western woodland on the left, Spiraea betulifolia lineup on the precise (although Spiraea betulifolia can also be the brightly coloured shrub on the left).Trying northeast in the direction of the gravel backyard and meadow backyard. The brand new spring addition of the graveled space could be seen within the higher left of this photograph.Element of the sting of the meadow and gravel gardens, Amsonia hubrichtii glowing within the foreground.Here is an thrilling new undertaking. Earlier this yr I discussed we’d be increasing FM’s newest mattress to achieve throughout the southern stretch of the property. This week FM rented a sod cutter and did certainly take up the sod. You may simply make out the darkish line extending from the mattress on the left.A more in-depth view, that is going through east. Although tough to see, earlier this week I planted it with a stash of plant materials I had been saving, vegetation resembling Frangula (syn. Rhamnus) californica ssp. tomentella, Baccharis pilularis ‘Pistol Pancake’ (Cistus introduction), Salvia ‘Celestial Blue’ and so many different treasures which have low water necessities. The world shall be mulched with wooden chips, persevering with the mattress throughout to finally finish at our gate.The brand new stripe of brown simply behind the big maple tree, whereas seemingly insignificant right here, brings me a lot pleasure. When the vegetation fill in they are going to assist to dam noise from the highway beneath and enclose us extra in addition to creating cohesion to backyard beds and general circulate of the backyard.The sting of the meadow space is full of amber colours from Amsonia hubrichtii and Anementhele lessoniana. Seed heads of Achillea millefolium, penstemon and different perennials add to the ambiance. The tall stalks are Digitalis ferruginea.The southern fringe of the backyard the place FM eliminated sod this spring and added wooden chips for mulch. That is the mattress that is been added to at its western finish.Some shrubbery love together with Arctostaphylos pumila on the precise, rosemary on the left and Ozothamnus ‘Sussex Silver’ high left. You may simply make out the fading corn stalks within the veggie backyard within the distance.Phlomis russelliana doing its pom pop factor which can proceed proper via winter till I lastly reduce them off in early spring.Within the coronary heart of the labyrinth backyard Solidago ‘Fireworks’ places on just a little coloration.Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ additionally with autumn foliage coloration, creeping thyme at its ft. Phlomis russelliana on the left once more, the big shrub left heart is Salix eleagnos var. angustifolia. This part of the middle of the labyrinth was closely reworked about this time final autumn and is starting to fill the gaps left by huge quantities of the removing of Rudbeckia hirta. The Rudbeckia hirta sulked each time the soil grew to become even just a little dry, so it needed to go.Trying south from my backyard shed in the direction of a limbed up Olearia ‘Dartonii’ within the heart. Muhlenbergia rigens grass on the precise. Two Acanthus mollis that flank a path (heart) on the fringe of the labyrinth had a protracted restoration from what was a foul summer season final yr. They’re surprisingly actively rising proper now and look higher than they did all summer season.Fading corn stalks within the vegetable backyard remind us the busy season has ended. The apple harvest was fabulous this yr, we misplaced our plum tree to what appears like borers, had few if any cherries, many pears and the figs are simply ending now. Persimmons nonetheless to return (ripening) and the nectaplum will most likely be eliminated because it’s by no means fruited and is at all times sickly trying with peach leaf curl. Not the perfect local weather for it, I believe. It was general a great yr for producing meals and I am excited to attempt a couple of new issues subsequent yr.Muhlenbergia rigens, deer grass, is at all times great, particularly this time of the yr. Two of the three Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’ could be seen within the background. Azara microphylla is reaching for the sky giving good darkish contrasting colours to its surrounding neighbors.On the fringe of the meadow backyard with many grasses, perennials, seeds and texture. Rather a lot to see nonetheless even in November. Teucrium chamaedrys within the foreground. This may stay intact till late winter when all of it will get in the reduction of. This time of yr and into late winter many birds just about dwell on this: sparrows, juncos, towhees, finches and the occasional flock of bushtits. Foliage colours close to the shade backyard whereas not spectacular are filling in properly and altering the character of what was clean canvas of weedy discipline grass. We might take away extra of this grass subsequent yr as we are likely to take away just a little yearly. That is an space of grass that turns fairly brown come June, so it is sensible to cowl it with vegetation that can thrive and canopy the soil.The berm backyard trying positive in early November. Itea v. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ is the crimson foliage.Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Album’ with golden autumnal foliage. I did an experiment with these this yr. It normally will get so tall that it flops open in addition to dries out rapidly in sizzling, dry climate. I gave them the Chelsea chop (in Might) which is principally giving them a haircut to maintain them a lot shorter than they’d be in any other case. Not solely did I hardly ever must water them this summer season, however they stayed quick as you’ll be able to see and didn’t flop. The flower present wasn’t as spectacular and was a lot later however it labored.Parting shot out of our window trying south in the direction of the brand new mattress, barely seen as a brown strip going horizontally behind the big tree.Now that the rains are right here and I’ve just a little additional time I’ve been planting treasures which have been awaiting their houses. The first space is the extension on the south fringe of the property, however moreover I’ve been gathering a couple of specimens from Cistus Nursery the place I work. Many are west coast natives which can be significantly drought tailored and new to me, extra on these to return as they fill in. Just a few got here from an expensive good friend who’s transferring from a 5 acre backyard to a apartment on the town, vegetation resembling a second Stewartia pseudocamellia, Drymis lanceolata, Cornus ‘Compressa’ and others. Additionally a couple of vegetation get moved this time of the yr to raised areas, although I actually dislike transferring vegetation. I have a tendency to go away them the place they’re as soon as within the floor. But when a plant will not be completely satisfied I do my finest to make it so. It’s satisfying, this time of the yr, for the overwhelmingly busy season is lastly settling down and I can examine off these to-do gadgets on my lengthy listing. New vegetation in? Test. Sod reduce? Test. Mulch unfold? Engaged on it. Hebes propagated? Test. Now to go make applesauce from our bountiful harvest. That is a wrap for this week at Chickadee Gardens. As at all times thanks a lot for studying and commenting, we love listening to from you! Completely happy autumn gardening! Keep tuned for Nice Dixter adventures subsequent time.
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Among the many daydreams of our latest backyard adventures in England is the true life backyard at house right here at Chickadee Gardens. Earlier than I delve right into a deep Nice Dixter daydream for the subsequent couple of posts (the final place we visited in England), I need to…