Hayefield

Posted on October 15, 2021October 14, 2021 by Nan Ondra — 18 Comments

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – October 2021

The long, slow slide to the end of this growing season continues. I always figure October 10 for our average first frost, but there’s been none yet, and there’s no sign of any for the next 10 days, at least. It’s been great for ripening seeds, and the cooler temperatures have made it a pleasure to tackle some outdoor projects, as well as to simply enjoy what the garden has to offer.

So many features go into making this such a rich time of year. There are late-bloomers flowering for the first time; repeat-bloomers putting on a second show after taking a break in mid- to late summer; and long-bloomers that have looked good for months and are still going strong. There are gorgeous warm-season grasses; lovely leaves—many starting to turn showy colors; and an abundance of fruits, seeds, and seedheads. With so much going on, is it any wonder this is a wonderful time to be out in the garden? If you have time for a virtual stroll, I invite you to join me for a view of some gems this season has to offer here at Hayefield.

Posted on September 15, 2021September 18, 2021 by Nan Ondra — 15 Comments

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – September 2021

‘Henry Eilers’ sweet coneflower (*Rudbeckia subtomentos*a) with great burnet (*Sanguisorba officinalis*)

In many ways, this year has become less of a growing season and more of an endurance test. Just as it looked like the summer’s sultry weather was getting cooler and drier, setting up for a beautiful fall, we ended up with over 15 inches of rain over the last 3 weeks (over half of that in just one day), and the multiple rounds of stormy weather really did a number on the many tall beauties just coming into their glory. As you can imagine, the current garden views aren’t at all photogenic, and I was seriously considering skipping Bloom Day altogether this month. There are still many wonderful things happening here and there, though, so I hope you’ll join me for a closer look.

Posted on August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 by Nan Ondra — 14 Comments

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – August 2021

Though the very first hints of fall are starting to appear here in southeastern Pennsylvania, the weather is definitely full summer, and the garden is thriving. There’s so much going on that I want to remember, and to share, that I’m going to keep the commentary to a minimum and concentrate on the photos. So, get ready for a whirlwind tour of the August highlights at Hayefield. Let’s start with the perennials and shrubs…