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| left: The new foliage of 'Alabama Sunset' coleus is bright chartreuse but quickly turns pinkish red. It looks great next to the light blue flowers of wild ageratum. right: The clean white blooms of Japanese anemones tone down some of the border's bold fall colors. |
Sharing the Garden
"Charles and I encourage the grandchildren to explore the yard," says Phoebe. Using magnifying glasses, the kids inspect flowers; foliage; and creepy, crawly insects that roam about. They carefully capture and study them and then promptly set them free. The youngsters' favorite activity is climbing the Southern magnolia, which acts as a living jungle gym.
Foliage Filler
Colorful, leafy textures fill in around gorgeous blooming plants. Ornamental grasses, such as silver grass (Miscanthus sp.) and fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.), provide tall, ribbon-like, arching foliage. Coleus is one of Phoebe's favorite foliage plants. It adds splashes of brightness to the landscape from spring through frost.
A Work in Progress
To be out in the yard among the flowers is all Phoebe wants, and each day spent in the garden is a gift. For years, Phoebe noticed a lady strolling past her house on daily walks. One day, the woman stopped and said, "I've been watching you working on your garden for a long time. Do you think this year you might finish?" Phoebe quickly replied, "I sure hope not."
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PHOEBE'S FAVORITES
- Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is an imposing perennial that grows 6 to 12 feet tall. It has hundreds of 2- to 3-inch, yellow, daisy-like blooms with brown eyes.
- Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) produces velvety, purple-and-white spikes and grows 3 1?2 to 4 feet tall and wide. It begins to flower in September and continues till frost.
- Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) has wonderful golden spires that rise 3 to 7 feet in the middle and back of the border. This native perennial has gotten a bum rap for causing hay fever. It doesn't and should be used more often in the landscape.
- Asters also play an important role in the fall border. Phoebe likes 'Jindai' Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus 'Jindai'). It grows about 6 feet tall, has large tobacco-like leaves, and is topped with clusters of small blue flowers.
- Other great bloomers for fall include Japanese anemone (Anemone hybrida), 'Autumn Joy' sedum (Sedum 'Autumn Joy'), Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis), and dahlia (Dahlia sp.).
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"Can't-Miss Fall Flowers" is from the September 2005 issue of Southern Living.
