Drought? Heat? Bean beetles? Chipmunks? Oh, never mind all that. Everything is forgiven and I am back in love with my garden right now. It’s all just lovely and I have spent way too much time wandering around with my camera recently. Trying to whittle a ridiculous number of images down to a Bloom Day post has been a real challenge, but I think I’ve managed it. Join me for a tour of this month’s highlights, starting with some of the remaining beautiful blooms.
Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus): not native, but tall and terrific for late color
Cheery, self-sown New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Bluebeard (Tripora divaricata [Caryopteris] divaricata): not especially interesting through most of the growing season, but it has loads of personality in October!
West Texas grass sage (Salvia reptans): Another late bloomer that’s worth waiting for
Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Crocus ochroleucus has really made itself at home here
‘Verrone’s Sophie’ dahlia : each bloom is a little different
‘Orange Flash’ pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Black mint (Tagetes minuta): The flowers are indeed minute atop the super-tall stems
Climbing Chinese bleeding heart (Dactylicapnos [Dicentra] torulosa): This one could have been in the flower section instead, but its seedpods really put it over the top.
Marsh eryngo (Eryngium aquaticum): another one that could have been the flower section, because it’s still producing a few silvery blue new blooms
From a bit of distance, though, marsh eryngo (Eryngium aquaticum) makes a splendid show for seedhead interest
This clump of white patrinia (Patrinia villosa) is still producing a few new flowers, but it’s mostly developing seedheads
As the seedheads of white patrinia (Patrinia villosa) mature, they producethis pretty pink cast
I’m calling this colorful castor bean (Ricinus communis) “Blue Pod”, for lack of an official name
Hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus)
New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
Carolina lupine (Thermopsis villosa)
‘Lemon Queen’ perennial sunflower (Helianthus)
Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Boehmeria tricuspis
Seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia): Isn’t that a cool seedpod?
Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha): It’s not quite in fall color yet, but oh, those plumes!
A closeup of the developing seedheads of Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha)
Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium): Put it in a site where it’s backlit in the morning or evening and watch it glow!
‘Skyracer’ purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea var. arundinacea): another one that really catches the light
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Flame grass (Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’)
‘Northwind’ switch grass (Panicum virgatum)
A closeup of ‘Dallas Blues’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
The fall color of ‘Dallas Blues’ switch grass (Panicum virgatum) is a pretty complement to the purplish plumes, particularly when backlit
One more grass that’s excellent for both seedheads and fall color: Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Now on to other seeds and fruits, starting with bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Next up, some combination shots, starting with Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’) in fall color and the green foliage of golden foam spurge (Euphorbia stricta ‘Golden Foam’)
‘Issai’ purple beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma) with Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha)
Rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) hips with ‘Bluebird’ smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
Flame grass (Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’) with ‘Anabelle’ wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Coastal panic grass (Panicum amarum) seedheads with coral bark willow (Salix alba subsp. vitellina ‘Britzensis’) stems
Variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) and shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia) in fall color with hybrid Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus)
Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) with Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) and aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
A wonderful wild combination of New England aster (Symphyotricum novae-angliae) with Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)—this one is for you, Mrs. C!
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) with Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) in the lower meadow
And to finish, some wider shots, starting with the meadows…
Now that my alpacas are gone, their pastures are turning back to meadow. It’s taken a couple years, but the frost asters (Symphyotrichum pilosum) and a number of other natives are happily moving in.
Formerly the upper pasture
Another former pasture reverting to meadow
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the lower meadow
A view of The Shrubbery (love that golden light in late afternoon!), with coastal panic grass (Panicum amarum)
A colorful vignette in The Shrubbery, with Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum), Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii), and ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Another bed in The Shrubbery, with prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) and Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)
Front borders at Hayefield
Border planting outside of the courtyard garden
Path through the courtyard garden
Foundation planting in the side garden
Looks like we’ll be getting a real frost next week, but there will be a few more good days for seed-collecting, at least. This will be my last Bloom Day post for a bit, so I can devote more time to cleaning seeds and getting a couple dozen new listings written and added to my online shop here. I’d like to thank all of you who have visited my virtual garden this year, and I look forward to meeting up with you again next spring!
You definitely been in the right light to photograph your beautiful fall gardens and meadows. Everything is all golden and glowing! What a grand finale!
Thank you, Ginny!
-Nan
Jan Wirth
A wonderful tour as always, Nancy. Thank you.
I appreciate you stopping by, Jan. Happy Bloom Day to you and your garden!
-Nan
Jean Spangenberg
Nan, Glorious fall beauty from your gardens, always a beautiful display. A nice treat to see what’s showing it’s colors at your farm!
Wishing you a wonderful fall, Thanksgiving and holiday season.
Jean
Good morning, Jean! It was a rough growing season, but fall is really making up for it. Thanks so much for the good wishes. May you enjoy a restful winter in preparation for the 2023 growing season!
-Nan
Maryanne Gryboski
Love your posts; they give me a new appreciation for many plants. And makes me smile!
And that makes it all worthwhile for me. Thanks ever so much, Maryanne!
-Nan
Verna m colliver
You made my day! When I saw the asters, I thought “Where are the goldenrod?” You did not disappoint for there they were as I scrolled through the beautiful autumn images! Thank you for the shout out! The golden hues are a counterpoint to Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay”– which begins with “Nature’s first green is gold.”
After summer’s heat and storms, the cool of autumn is welcome.
Verna
I always think of you when I see the purple asters and goldenrod together. I hope you too are enjoying this gorgeous autumn day we’re having!
-Nancy
Donna
I’m glad the angst of the growing season has settled into a peaceful, colorful autumn for you. And for us, your happy blog post viewers! Enjoy these days, less hectic times ? and thank you for all your wonderful posts.
So happy that you stopped by, Donna. Yes, I was getting pretty frustrated with all of the problems this year, but this month is making up for it all. Definitely looking forward to a winter “break,” though!
-Nan
Allan
Hi Nan, thank you so much for another glorious tour around your beautiful garden, its always a pleasure, to see what’s happening in your patch.
Hi there, Allan! I hope your own garden has been good to you this year. Now we can look forward to a new growing season with no mistakes in it (yet).
-Nan
Marilyn from France
Hi Nan! Lovely autumn in your garden. I wonder if your Ricinus could be ‘Blue Buddha’
Good to hear from you, Marilyn. I did think that was the correct ID when I received it as “blue castor bean,” but it seems like that strain is supposed to have bluish leaves and stems. This one turned out to have red-turning-green leaves and the blue pods. The other interesting thing about it is that the seeds are very small: a third to a half of the size of the castor beans I’m used to. The plants they produce are full-sized, though.
-Nan
Mike Donnally
Your photos capture Fall respite, when a gardener might take the time to breathe deep and look, gaze … at the vegetative bounty of Fall. Deepest thanks. Your photos provoked me to take the time to just gaze at my own garden and its survival of a challenging year. Generous of you, to share your gardened spaces.
Very kind of you to say that, Mike. I consider the generosity to be coming from folks who take the time to visit me here at Hayefield. Here’s looking forward to a good growing season for all of us next year!
-Nan
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Oh Nan! How glorious!
Thanks, Sandy. I hope you have a beautiful day in your own garden!
-Nan
You definitely been in the right light to photograph your beautiful fall gardens and meadows. Everything is all golden and glowing! What a grand finale!
Thank you, Ginny!
-Nan
A wonderful tour as always, Nancy. Thank you.
I appreciate you stopping by, Jan. Happy Bloom Day to you and your garden!
-Nan
Nan, Glorious fall beauty from your gardens, always a beautiful display. A nice treat to see what’s showing it’s colors at your farm!
Wishing you a wonderful fall, Thanksgiving and holiday season.
Jean
Good morning, Jean! It was a rough growing season, but fall is really making up for it. Thanks so much for the good wishes. May you enjoy a restful winter in preparation for the 2023 growing season!
-Nan
Love your posts; they give me a new appreciation for many plants. And makes me smile!
And that makes it all worthwhile for me. Thanks ever so much, Maryanne!
-Nan
You made my day! When I saw the asters, I thought “Where are the goldenrod?” You did not disappoint for there they were as I scrolled through the beautiful autumn images! Thank you for the shout out! The golden hues are a counterpoint to Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay”– which begins with “Nature’s first green is gold.”
After summer’s heat and storms, the cool of autumn is welcome.
Verna
I always think of you when I see the purple asters and goldenrod together. I hope you too are enjoying this gorgeous autumn day we’re having!
-Nancy
I’m glad the angst of the growing season has settled into a peaceful, colorful autumn for you. And for us, your happy blog post viewers! Enjoy these days, less hectic times ? and thank you for all your wonderful posts.
So happy that you stopped by, Donna. Yes, I was getting pretty frustrated with all of the problems this year, but this month is making up for it all. Definitely looking forward to a winter “break,” though!
-Nan
Hi Nan, thank you so much for another glorious tour around your beautiful garden, its always a pleasure, to see what’s happening in your patch.
Hi there, Allan! I hope your own garden has been good to you this year. Now we can look forward to a new growing season with no mistakes in it (yet).
-Nan
Hi Nan! Lovely autumn in your garden. I wonder if your Ricinus could be ‘Blue Buddha’
Good to hear from you, Marilyn. I did think that was the correct ID when I received it as “blue castor bean,” but it seems like that strain is supposed to have bluish leaves and stems. This one turned out to have red-turning-green leaves and the blue pods. The other interesting thing about it is that the seeds are very small: a third to a half of the size of the castor beans I’m used to. The plants they produce are full-sized, though.
-Nan
Your photos capture Fall respite, when a gardener might take the time to breathe deep and look, gaze … at the vegetative bounty of Fall. Deepest thanks. Your photos provoked me to take the time to just gaze at my own garden and its survival of a challenging year. Generous of you, to share your gardened spaces.
Very kind of you to say that, Mike. I consider the generosity to be coming from folks who take the time to visit me here at Hayefield. Here’s looking forward to a good growing season for all of us next year!
-Nan