The garden knows summer is slipping away
As yet another long, hot Austin summer drags on, with no real relief expected until early October, I start combing the garden for signs of a change in season. Late yesterday afternoon I found quite a few — hallelujah!
The dangling seedheads of inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) are changing from apple green to toasty brown.
Clusters of berries on American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) are ripening to a rich purple.
Papery chartreuse “butterflies” — the seedheads of butterfly vine (Mascagnia macroptera) — perch among the vine’s twining stems.
Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) has revved back up with a hot-orange rebloom that pops nicely against the nearly black ‘Vertigo’ pennisetum I’m trialing from Proven Winners.
Winter-white garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) are beginning to flower…
…with more still in bud.
And more! The starry white blossoms will really shine against the purple-black of another ‘Vertigo’ grass.
The summer-sad autumn sage (Salvia greggii), which never really bloomed this spring (too much rain?), grew woody and thin this summer. About three weeks ago I’d had enough and whacked them back really hard. I trusted they would return, neatly compact and ready for fall flowering.
Finally I see they’re putting on new leaves. Thank goodness! I was tired of having to avert my eyes from this part of the garden.
Of course summer still holds sway for now, which in my garden means mostly grassy and spiky greens. The Berkeley sedge (Carex divulsa) lawn (also visible in the background of the photo above) has filled in beautifully this year. I love the vertical element of the TerraTrellis blue tuteur in it, and I’m keeping an eye out for any mason bees making a home in the bug hotel on top.
Another view, with Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) in front.
The wide-leaf giant hesperaloe (Hesperaloe funifera ssp. chiangii) has also grown a lot this year, and a lone survivor white Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii ‘Alba’) is flowering beside it.
Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) is always so pretty backlit by the setting sun. The visual weight and dark coloring of a trio of ‘Burgundy Ice’ dyckia in the steel-ring planter contrasts nicely.
While summer remains, this Death Star-averse gardener takes shelter where she can, either indoors…
…or submerged to the neck. That’s quite nice, I’ll admit, but…come on, fall!
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
When did the octopus join you? Very cool! The deer ate my Beautyberry last week..berries, leaves. Arghhhh.Love that ‘Vertigo’ Pennisetum.. may have to add that to my collection…
The octopus came home with me about a month ago, from a summer sale at the Great Outdoors. Isn’t it fun? I have him up near the pool. —Pam
Your garden looks great! It’s a testament to choosing plants wisely, for summer and winter.
Here’s hoping for some relief from this hot and dry soon.
Thanks, Linda. I do try to choose plants wisely, but I’ll admit I’ve also been working in the garden really hard this summer — spending much more time than usual — because it’ll be on tour this fall. That puts on the pressure! —Pam
I love the signs of autumn coming. I always notice how the angle of the sun changes in August. It makes me feel so happy just knowing cooler temps in the 80’s are on the way and those autumn breezes that blow in make me sort of giddy. Autumn has always been my favorite season, great porch weather here in Htown. Your garden looks lovely, I love the bee hotel!
Hope you are getting rain today…we are soaked!
Just a little sprinkling was all I got, but it’s nice to smell the rain and get the dust knocked off. We really need a good soaking though. Here’s hoping! —Pam
Your garden is beautiful still–not like mine here under the Death Star in Oklahoma!
Thanks, Sharon. The Death Star has been on high beam here too, although we got a little break yesterday. I hope you did too! —Pam
I was just out taking stock of the beautybushes – they are berrying up nicely, almost ready for the bird onslaught to come.
It felt like everything was a bit off this year, extra rain or not, perhaps because of all the extra rain? Some things never really bloomed, others seem to set seed early, it has been all crazy pants all the time. I for one will be happy to see September arrive and I’m keeping trowels crossed that our “second Spring” will be a bit more typical than our actual Spring was this year!
Yes, I agree, Deb — everything’s been a bit off-kilter this year. I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but all that rain followed by two months of drought has befuddled our plants, I think. I didn’t get any kind of bloom out of my autumn sages this spring, which is very unusual. I’m hoping for a good show this fall. —Pam
I just love those black grasses. Those big strappy leaves are so cool. I wish they would be perennial in my zone 6. I would definitely give them a home. Your garden is ahead of mine in that the beauty berry or the sea oats aren’t turning yet. As the days shorten there will be changes here too. I am with you…come on fall.
Lisa, you might find them worth growing as annuals. I normally grow purple fountain grass each year as an annual, and I planted these prepared to treat them the same way. If they come back, it’ll be a bonus, but they add so much for such a long growing season that I find them worth buying every year. —Pam
Your garden looks inviting, Pam, even if it might not yet feel so comfortable. I’ve been earnestly looking for signs of fall in my garden too – unfortunately, all I’ve found thus far is more plants killed off by the heat and dry conditions. But the marine layer is back, bringing temperatures down, which is something.
What’s the marine layer, Kris. Fog? Whatever it is, I’m glad to hear you’re getting some relief from the heat. Hope you get that El Nino in CA this winter. —Pam
I’m with you on the c’mon fall, but don’t breathe a word to the Danger Gardener. Things are looking awfully good at your place, even if you can only enjoy it from neck-deep in the pool (which doesn’t, frankly, sound so bad.)
I know Danger is not a fan of autumn, but it sure is a welcome season here. She clearly just needs to head south around October or November. 😉 —Pam