Fall Flora

We bought our house in January almost seven years ago.  That spring and summer it was so much fun watching flowers sprout up and bushes bloom.  I was (and still am) a flower/bush novice.  Except for the roses, irises, and lilac bushes, I didn't know the names of anything.  I even weeded out a good number of my grape hyacinths before I realized what they were.  

From early spring when the daffodils emerge to fall, something is blooming here.  One of the benefits of buying an old house is enjoying all the bulbs, perennials, bushes and trees that the previous owners planted.  Because there were many owners we have wonderful variety.  The color palette and layouts were obviously not designed by a landscaping firm.  Instead, people planted what they loved.  And I love this.

I've added a couple things to the mix, but mostly just rearrange as plants outgrow their space.   This can be a wonderful way to fill in "bald" patches where a plant has died.  By dividing plants you already have, you not only save money, but you tie colors and shapes together, creating a more deliberate and balanced look.  

I have been so thrilled with the zinnias Jamey planted for me this spring.  To plant, you simply scatter the seeds and water.  We mulched them once they were tall enough and they have grown beautifully all summer and are still growing strong (despite dry spells).  The plants grew huge, some up to my shoulders and new buds opened in waves all summer long giving me a continuous supply of cut flowers.  I highly recommend them.

Another of my fall-blooming favorites is Autumn Sedum.  A succulent, it stays green and lovely all summer and then, come fall, reveals the most lovely clusters of tiny flowers.  The flowers open almost white, then turn light pink and later a deep purple-red.  

This, too, does wonderful during dry spells and requires no watering.  They fill out over a few years and are super easy to divide (using a big shovel) and transplant across the yard or wherever.  The butterflies and bees (and grasshoppers?) love them as much as I do.

Because my yard gives me such a wonderful supply, I almost always have fresh flowers inside on our table.  And I haven't even mentioned our sunflowers, but I'll talk more about them in an upcoming post when I'll give instructions on how to start your own cut flower "business".

I'm going to miss my flowers this winter.  Here's to next spring.

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