| Author |
Message |
    
Mike_in_chicago
My Garden
| | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 06:48 pm EST : |   
 |
Not that we've had much autumnal weather here in Chicago, but it is officially that time. Here are three of my favorites today from my garden.
My favorite grass, Calamagrostis brachytrida, Korean feather reed grass, for it's lush, limp form before blooming, then these pinky-purple blooms:
I love sedums, and this little one is one of the last to bloom. I think it's a form of sedum cauticola, but its leaves are fairly purple, more so than 'Lidakense'; I grew it from a cutting given to me and works perfectly in my tiny garden spaces:
One annual I always grow from seed is the pepper 'Peruvian Purple', which looks stunning even when not in bloom. The peppers are a dark, glossy-eggplant purple, but finally turn fire engine red, and are tasty as well, becoming my winter's supply of thai-style hot sauce:
Mike_in_chicago
- Chicago, IL,
Zone "5b"
|
Goswimmin
My Weather
| | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 09:59 pm EST : |
|
Lovely fall pictures. I adore grasses and your is great.
Mary
Goswimmin
- Georgia,
Zone "7b"
|
Gardenfiend
My Weather
| | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 03:46 am EST : |
|
I would love to see more pictures of your garden. These little vignettes are so lovely - and show glimpses of more beauty :-)
Gardenfiend
- Germany,
Zone "7a"
|
Mike_in_chicago
My Garden
| | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 01:47 pm EST : |
|
Thanks to both of you. I'll try to get some more vignettes once the weather cooperates. We've had a summer-long drought, and are now finally getting rain, so I can't complain too much.
Mike_in_chicago
- Chicago, IL,
Zone "5b"
|
Mike_in_chicago
My Garden
| | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 09:12 pm EST : |
|
Since Mara twisted my arm, here are some more nice autumn scenes. Too bad I was too busy when the sedums were in bloom, but the autumn crocuses are still ahead.
This was one of my classis "I did it right" foliage combinations, each one setting the other off regardless of bloom. Actually, maybe the only one in my garden. Peony, Geranium himalayense 'Birch's Double', Basil 'Osmin', Sedum 'Matrona' (done blooming), Dichondra 'Silver Falls' an annual):
I really like this pulmonaria because it glows at night along a path visible from both the deck and the kitchen window. Pulmonaria 'Samurai Sword', Geranium koreana, Juniperus chinensis 'Nana' trained up, which you can't really see:
Acanthus spinosus, Heuchera 'Velvet Night', Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Bath Pink’:
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hamelin', Juniperus communis 'Compressa' (the tiny thing in front, just a baby), rocks, iris straps, ajuga 'from Mom and Dad' (as in, I really don't know what it is, but I love it):
Thanks for indulging me!
Mike_in_chicago
- Chicago, IL,
Zone "5b"
|
Susanq
My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 09:18 pm EST : |
|
Lovely vignettes, Mike. The array of colors and textures are wonderful.
SusanQ - Zone 4b-5b Wisconsin |
Gardenfiend
My Weather
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 05:41 am EST : |
|
Very, very lovely.
The first combination looks deceptively low-growing in the photo. Do you often combine annuals with perennials?
I've noted the acanthus, heuchera, dianthus combination. Very attractive (though I'd substitute something - anything - else for the acanthus...) The blue-grey of the dianthus is perfect with Velvet Night, but I'd have thought the former's need for sun and drought wouldn't suit the latter. Obviously both are happy in your garden.
Gardenfiend
- Germany,
Zone "7a"
|
Frostycurls
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 11:19 am EST : |
|
Beautiful combinations, I love it when foliage carries the show and flowers are just the accents.
Penny Oregon Zone 7 |
Kniphofia
My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 07:14 pm EST : |
|
Fantastic Mike! I just love your acanthus with the heuchera and dianthus.
Kniphofia
- Maine,
Zone "4"
|
Mike_in_chicago
My Garden
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 10:27 pm EST : |
|
Gardenfiend wrote on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 12:41 am:The first combination looks deceptively low-growing in the photo. Do you often combine annuals with perennials?
I've noted the acanthus, heuchera, dianthus combination. Very attractive (though I'd substitute something - anything - else for the acanthus...) The blue-grey of the dianthus is perfect with Velvet Night, but I'd have thought the former's need for sun and drought wouldn't suit the latter. Obviously both are happy in your garden.
Mara, the only annuals I put in the perennial garden are dichondra 'Silver Falls' and the basil 'Osmin', because I like them so much. Acanthus is a slug magnet, as I've seen you note before, but I love it so much, and have little other choice in my zone for it's type of leaf/flower. In my z5 garden, I grow Heucheras 'Velvet Night', 'Silver Scrolls', 'Geisha's Fan' and 'Plum Pudding' all in more or less full sun. With appropriate water, these do fine.
Thanks, Penny and Sue!
Mike_in_chicago
- Chicago, IL,
Zone "5b"
|
|
