Friday, October 1, 2010

Decisions, Decisions

 

Hi Everyone. This weeks cool temperatures
and the prospect of a frost coming this weekend,
which now may have been cancelled, was the
motivation I needed to get some clean up chores
done around in the garden.

Anemone_JoePyeAnemone Margarete  & Chocolate Eupatorium Snakeroot 

Flower beds needed a clean up of leaves from
strong winds the first of the week which seems
to always land them right in the middle of my
shady beds between the house and garage.

Phlox_Spider
Nora Leigh tall Phlox
I love phlox and want  to add them into some other
areas of the garden beds next year so I have been
collecting some seeds this summer as they bloomed.
So that will be a new project for trying some winter
sowing.
I especially wanted to get more of these Nora Leigh
tall phlox growing with its lovely variegated leaves.


Anemone_JPye2

The decision had to be made to get those plants
ready that I wanted to over winter in the basement
and the house. So some had to be potted up.

Lantana_LusciousGrape
Luscious Grape Lantana

The Lantana plants will be trimmed and
brought in later. I want to leave them out
as long as I can and enjoy the blooms even
if they are slowing down now.

Geranium_RedRosebud
Red Rosebud Pelargonium

The two Rosebud pelargoniums  will be brought
in also. I usually try to overwinter a few geraniums
either potted or by hanging them by their roots
in the basement. These two will stay potted up.

 Geranium_AppleblossomRosebud Rosebud Apple-blossom

I am still deciding what other geraniums I want to
keep since I have so many or just let them go and
seed different and newer varieties next spring.
One can only keep so many geraniums in a small
basement.

Geranium_RaspberryRipple_Aug30
Raspberry Swirl Pelargonium

I think I will keep this  Raspberry Swirl
geranium. I love the markings on its  pink petals.

Geranium_Evenings Red Ice Pelargonium

I will most likely let go of this Red Ice geranium.
It was rather pretty but ran more toward an orange
color, which I am not that wild about.

GaillardiaMesa_Wet
Mesa Yellow Gaillardia
The Gaillardia’s were left standing since they will bloom
until a good frost or freeze.

Dahlia_V2

The seeded Victoriana Dahlias will be left to the frosts
since all that seeded and grew were the white and yellow ones.
The one lovely burgundy seeded dahlia that did bloom
only had two blooms to my disappointment.

Gazania_Macro
Gazania Big Kiss White Flame

Though the Gazania’s I grew from seed took a long time
to get started blooming they are rather lovely now so
seeds are being kept for next year and they will be let go of
when the cold weather takes them.

BlueP_Zinnia

The Zahara Starlight Rose zinnia’s  did not live up
to their advertised pictures of double beauties,
and from what I have seen it was not just my seeds
but those of other gardeners that tried them too.
They were pretty though so I saved seeds to broadcast
sow some in the sunny part of my Woodland bed
for next spring plantings.

Coreopsis_SiennaSunset 
 Sienna Sunset Coreopsis

The Coreopsis plants were cut down and cleaned up.
There are still bulbs to plant, if they ever get here, and
more plant decisions to be made still in the next few weeks.
The  lawn furniture was also put away from the front
porch ….

Autumn_2010 Autumn2_2010
and a small amount of Fall decorating was done.

Mums_Rain

My Mums are just in the bud stage yet but should start
blooming soon to add some Fall color.

Cyclamen_Hardy_Evening

In the clean up of the shade garden this Hardy Cyclamen
which was forgotten was uncovered and had some blooms.
poor thing. It may just do better with a little light getting to
it now. LOL!

What Plants Are You Planning to Overwinter?

Happy Gardening Everyone
and Have a Wonderful Weekend !!

Lona    fall_arrangement

PS. Don’t Forget today is Fertilizer Friday over
at Tootsie Time with our Tootsie. So Flaunt Your
Flowers for Fall!!!

Fertilizer_Friday

32 comments:

Muhammad khabbab said...

wow what beautiful flowers specially pelargoniums. I am in zone 10b and just started winter sowings. We overwinter only water lilies here.

Very impressive blooms.

Darla said...

So much work for you gardener's up north. I don't really over winter much. I remember learing about hanging geraniums from their roots from you...still think that's just the caziest thing.

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

It is too sad when summer is over an frost is right behind. Your geraniums even the orange was gorgeous and worth trying to winter over. I grew some zinnias that were supposed to be a white double and did not double up at all. Very disappointing. Oh Lona there is always next year.

Kimberly said...

Lona, your blooms are fantastic! I love that Gazania! And the purple lantana is a favorite of mine. The rose apple blossom is really gorgeous! You have so many various blooms...all very lovely!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I really enjoyed looking at all the flowers in your post and your fall decor is very nice.
I'm going to have a look around your blog as well as I see some other things I'd like to read.

Kent Island Red said...

Your photographs are INCREDIBLE! I assume you are a professional photographer. Thanks for the inspiration I needed to do my own fall clean up in the garden. Loved the scarecrow, too!

Liz said...

Hi Lona,

Very nice to see the Cyclamen out, I'm sure it will be very grateful of the light it will now have :)

I don't overwinter anything... I haven't even considered it before truth be told. Perhaps I dish out too much of the tough love!

Those rose Pelargoniums are lovely, I can well understand why you plan on keeping them.

Pat said...

Nice Zinnias. The Nora Leigh phlox is different...I like it. Coreopsis are really pretty.
No luck with lantana here.
Haven't decorated for fall in years...maybe this year I will after seeing what you did...I'm inspired.

Bonnie said...

Lona, we're of the same mind. I just bought potting soil tonight and plan to re-pot plants for the winter. Geraniums - yes. I have one I've been wintering over since 2004. It's probably not the original plant, when they get too leggy/woody, I take cuttings and start new plants. I'm also going to pot up some coleus, sweet potato vine, re-pot some basil. Try some pansies, licorice plant and whatever else I can find. I will also hang some geraniums in my basement. Good luck with your potting chores.

A Garden of Threads said...

Hi Lona, I would love to bring all my plants indoors as well, hard to decide what to keep and what not. I do like the colour of Raspberry Swirl, a keeper. Hope you get out in the garden to finish your cleanup. Take care.

Lynn said...

Lona, your pics are just amazing! I truly enjoyed this visit, have a great weekend:@)

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Definetely keep the raspberry swirl. I love it. I'm bringing in some impatiens, a lot of geraniums and my standard house plants. Still deciding if I have space for some other things.

pogonip said...

I don't mind bringing my geraniums indoors since they bloom again in early spring when everything outdoors is still in winter mode.

Unknown said...

Lovely photos, Lona. I haven't quite decided on everything yet, but we're still a few weeks from frost. I'll probably try overwintering a lovely blue salvia, 'fireworks' pennisetum, and of course my brightest happiest geranium 'Vancouver Centennial.' Maybe this year I'll try a lantana, too.

Kylee Baumle said...

What beautiful photos, Lona! I love your Pelargoniums! I thoroughly enjoyed this post! Sounds like you are ready for frost, whenever it comes. Not me!

Karen said...

I love your 'small amount of fall decorating' and all of your gorgeous flowers. I sure hope the meteorologists are wrong and you get a reprieve from the frost. Everything is too pretty!

miruku said...

Hi Lona,
Although fall is coming but your garden is still so beautiful with so many beautiful blooms around. Thanks for the comment at my blog.
Happy gardening to you too :)
~milka

Anonymous said...

Dear Lona, It is always so satisfying to get ahead of the chores required to be carried out in anticipation of winter which are always worse when simply thought about. As to what should be overwintered, this is always so difficult for, as you say, with limited space some things must be allowed to go. Have a happy, and decision making, weekend!

Jeannie B. said...

I loved seeing your flower! I will miss them this winter.

The Redneck Rosarian said...

Alas, a gardeners chores are never done. Can't believe you all will soon have a frost. We usually do not see frost until late late December or January.... Love the fall decor.

Floridagirl said...

Wow! That Gazania 'Big Kiss' photo is stunning! All your flower photos are gorgeous, as usual. Happy fall!

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Beautiful blooms Lona, you do such a wonderful job of overwintering your tender plants. Your dedication is exemplary! :)

Jean said...

You do a lot to preserve your plants. I admire that but never do it! I took in most of my garden art but haven't cut much down yet and every year I say I'm going to plant bulb but don't get to it. Great post! Jean

Arno said...

Beautiful photos.

RURAL said...

OK, first, did you get a new lens, or a new camera? Lovely shots, not that yours weren't before. It just looks like it might be a new lens. And I get all excited.

When I first read about the possibility of frost I was freaking.

Ack, but then I decided that we live to far apart, and we are not getting frost here for awhile. There this gardeners mind is made up.

Jen @ MuddyBootDreams

Adrienne Zwart said...

Lona, your garden is so lovely, even this late in the season! Do I understand correctly that you over-winter your lantana indoors? I have a couple plants that did really well, and I was wondering if that was a possibility.

P.s. Received the seeds--thank you!

IlonaGarden said...

Like the others here I really enjoyed the photos- you always do such a fine job. The combination of the anemone and snakeroot is pure brilliance.

Beth said...

Lona, There's a lot of beauty in your garden still. The gazania and dahlia photos are fabulous - many, many pretty photos. I really love your header photos too - so fall-ish!
Blessings, Beth

Becca's Dirt said...

You still have so many blooms Lona. Love your phlox and geraniums. Hope you had a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona, I was wondering about your rosebud geraniums. I think I'll give mine a winter respite too. I've been seeing a lot of bud worms/caterpillars lately so I hope I can get them all off before I bring it in. They like to hide. Creepy buggers.

Speaking of hiding, those sneaky hardy cyclamen do it to me every year. It's kind of endearing actually. Yours look happy with their fluffy mulch.

I hope the frost holds off until you're ready for it.

Jim Groble said...

Pat and I havn't even started our fall yard work. I still have a yard of sweet peet under tarp in the driveway for any "just in cases." At the very least we have to get all the hosta out of their pots and in the ground. We're giving all our pumpkins away to the neighborhood kids this weedend. Great pics and post. jim

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Lona,
I am having trouble staying awake, so I think this will be my last post for the night. Your plants are still looking great. I love that yellow gaillardia. The rabbits ate my gazanias. I see one or two survived and may get some blooms before the first frost.

So far, we have brought our angel wing begonias in. A friend of mine asked for some starts of one of my sweet potato vines this evening, and she gave me some persicaria, 'Firetail' seeds. I don't know if I'll try cuttings this year. I'll bring my scented geraniums and rosemary plants in, oh, and the bay plants.

I wanted to let you know the seeds arrived yesterday. Thanks! I'll let you know when I get yours in the mail.