What do you use for color in the fall? I use the small pansies, johnny-jump-ups, in mass, to fill in the spots the double impatiens and torenia filled doing the summer.
This is a photo of the Torenia as a summer filler, it did really well this year and seeded through the garden gently. It would have spread further if I had recognized the leaves sooner and didn't weed it out.
This message was edited Sep 15, 2007 6:34 AM
Lovely path!
I pulled up a lot of what turned out to be Torenia seedlings also... let a few grow to see what they were, then kicked myself for not recognizing the leaves sooner just as you said! (At a first casual glance, they looked a bit like the nuisance mulberry seedlings that pop up everywhere courtesy of the birds!)
Besides the usual fall/cool weather annuals like pansies, I've come to enjoy putting in masses of Russian red kale. It's got a pretty blue-grey leaf. You can snip off the yummy edible leaves for salads or greens .. Some of the ornamental kales are just stunning, but I think they can be spendy if you have a lot of filling in to do.
I'm interested in hearing other ideas besides these, myself... I need to start doing a little research, I guess.
Hi wrightie,
I use the Red Russian Kale in the garden as a filler also. It self seeds well so I haven't actually planted it for years but that is an excellent idea to seed now in the pots of summer annuals that are starting to look a little tired. Do you have pictures of it growing in your garden? I suppose following that idea some of the red or cut leaf lettuces might be a nice fall edging. Although I have rabbits this year and I'm sure they'd find tender greens tasty. The lettuce could look nice with pansies and both like cooler weather and a little shade. Last year I grew nasturtiums from a late June seeding that filled in nicely by the fall.
critterologist,
Thanks for the path compliment, I did cringe a little when I saw I used the unswept path picture. Of course that is what it normally looks like, LOL.
LOL, my eye went to the plants on either side, not to the path itself except to imaging strolling along it. ahhhhhhh. I had to go back to see what you could've meant by "unswept" LOL.
I thought I'd mention that my garlic chives are adding loads of white blooms along my front walk now... and the seed heads continue adding interest well into fall... of course, if you don't deadhead them, they do tend to multiply!
One of my plans this year, if my anal retentive tendencies can cope, is to leave my perennials to go to seed and not tidy up the garden until late winter... not sure if I can manage, but I will give it a go this year. Normally, I'm out there in the fall with my pruners 'putting the garden to bed.'
I've started some seed collecting as well.
Oh, Semper. I need to look through my pic's to see if I've got the kale photos. I'm laid up in bed for a while and don't have access to my usual files on this laptop... Will post if/when I find them.
Hi wrightie,
I'm sorry to hear you're stuck in bed for awhile. I hope it's not serious and wish you a speedy recovery.
BTW I do leave as many plants that provide seeds for the birds in place as possible. It is a whole different look, the bursts of fall color and dried seed heads, but beautiful in it's own way.
Another plant I use for fall color is Allium thubergii Ozawa. It forms a grassy clump that blooms small rosy flowers in the fall, some where in late Sept. to late Oct. It contrasts in shape nicely with the small Pansies as a edging.
I thought of the allium when you mentioned the garlic chives critter. I'm not the biggest fan of those chives because for me they always seed somewhere I don't want them, and they are rooted so deep, and the stalks are slippery and hard to pull. Pretty though, if you can keep up with the deadheading as you mention.
The photo is from last fall showing the Ozawa with the variegated leaves of the nasturtium Alaska.
.
I'm in a warmer zone but I have to say the flowering tobacco is at it peak right now doesn't show any signs of quiting. It's an amazing flowering show that looks to keep right on going through fall! It the first year I've grown it and I have tons of seeds if anybody want to trade. it gets to be about 4-5 feet tall and soooo many blooms.
Sempervirens- When your veriegated nasturtium set seed is it true and what color are the blooms? Might you want to trade a couple of seeds?
Oh, it also smells amazing in the evening the wonderful fragrance wafts throught the garden
wonderearth,
The variegated leaved nasturtium "Alaska" has flowers that are red or orangey yellow. I always hope for the red not being an orange person but all my seed packs seem to go more to the brassy yellow. The red with the green and white leaves really pop. I just checked to see if I had any left over seeds but I'm sorry to say I used them all. I am not very good at collecting seeds and I usually grow more then 1 type of nasturtium so I don't know if they seed true. Your flowering tobacco looks wonderful. I've tried those a few times without any luck. I probably planted other things too close. The nasturtiums have no problem fighting for space.
Hey Semper, do you sow your nast. seeds directly in their beds? This year I grew some dwarf nasturtiums, 'Cherry Rose Jewel' and I think I'll do the same next year, but next time I'll put them in the ground instead of containers. I do love your variegated leaves.
Here's a poor quality close up, but it at least captures the color pretty well.
sempervirens - I love the little purple flowers that look life they've got eyes. Is that the tourina? I grow my tobacco with totally out of control nasturtiums and ferns too. so the space thing, well, you should see how crowded mine are- it's silly. What exactly happened when you tried to grow it? Maybe you should try again. Mine didn't really start to go untill the weather warmed quite a bit and they probably really need shade in your neck of the woods. I lived in nyc for a year and boy was it hot. Would you be willing to look on the ground underneath your nasturtiums for seeds. I really wouldn't need more that 5 seeds. I don't care if there not true or a surprise. they are really big just almost 1/3 of an inch and look like little brains, kind of, they usually get all over the place in my garden.( enough anatomic descriptions today) I could send you an sasbe and well if it's not to much trouble?
wrightie- your pink nasturtiums are so sweet I should try dwarf in my garden. the regular ones get so big they shade out everything else and have to keep pulling them out all year just let some of them flower. They are thouroghly naturalized and would be hard to change varieties though.
But back to fall color- begonias are still going full force and do well tucked in between all the rest of everything so that there vividblooms just kind of peak through. Also painted tongue i just planted and is adding vivid color. when do you get a first frost?
here's a picture of the crowd - love it. there are begonias and daisies under the nicotiana that swamping everything, just can bear to cut it back yet.
wrightie,
The "Cherry Rose Jewel" nasturtium is a very pretty color, quite different from the usual yellow, orange, and red blooms you usually see on this plant. I'll have to look for the seeds in the spring. I direct seed my nasturtiums a little on the late side, sometime in June because I find with a latter seeding I have less loss from insects. That means they don't really start blooming well until the fall. This has them filling in for me just when I have big gaps in the garden.
wonderearth,
The torenia's common name is wishbone plant because if you look in it's throat ,at the very back, is a small white "wishbone". There are at least 2 different varieties, the 1st is a spreading, trailing type which preforms like the little million bells, callibrochoa. The second is more of a clumping plant which has pretty inflated pods that add to the display. I usually buy 1 flat in the spring as it is native to So. Africa and is a tender annual for me.
I have only the nasturtiums that self seeded this year because I wanted the native columbine to have more room to self seed. If i find any seeds I would be happy to send them to you. That's a very pretty garden in your photo, what is the short purple flower in the front? I looked up painted tongue (Salpiglossis sinuata) and it looks very nice and it likes it cooler. I didn't think of begonias, they could be pretty and tuck in nicely in the front of the border, especially the red leaved variety. I'll have to remember then next spring. I stopped using them because they can be so over done when used in mass along with the impatiens (personal opinion, tastes change). A few tucked here and there could be charming.
When I picked up a couple flats of pansies the nursery was featuring stock and snapdragons. Does anyone add these to their fall garden?
The photo shows the trailing torenia.
That trailing torenia is lovely! I put one at the end of a railing planter, and I'm hoping to overwinter it... I wonder if the trailing habit would come true from seed?
I gather seeds from my "regular" torenia each year. They are teensy little white seeds, so if you look for them inside the dried "pods," they don't look like much! They do seem to pretty much come true in terms of color, although it's hard to say if the rogues are just due to errors on my part (either mixing up the seeds when collecting, or having a few seeds of one color still stuck to my finger when I sow the next row). I start them 10-12 weeks ahead, and by the time I set them out they're generally blooming.
Sempervirens,
I totally agree about the impatiens and begonias blechk! This is a very different effect. The purple in the front is the salpiglosis. Seeds packs usually come in a mix of colors but I bought this one from a company called "annies annuals" They sell just the purple in 4'' pots. I hope to collect the seeds for next year. I'm sure you've all heard about her place but it kind of specializes in cottage gardens I just bought some amazing cottage garden annuals and perennials from her this week. I'm very excited to start planting. Fall is planting time for us, since our rainy season is just about to start and it doesn't get that cold. Here's a really cool one I just purchased. Very delicate looking very dainty herbacious vine with just perfect sized flowers. If you all haven't gone to the website for Annies I highly suggest you do so, - even just to get ideas : )
Thank you for the reminder about stock - yes, I love them, especially the doubles. Although.... I haven't seen any around here for sale - plants that is. I bought some seeds, but it didn't occur to me at the proper time to put them in. Duh. My problem, it always seems, for seeds.
PC, I think I might still have some 4" pots of stock that need a home. Not sure what color, but it's probably listed in my journal. Will take a gander tomorrow, but scream at me if you don't get an email.
Ah, you're just dying to use the packing from that herb place! That would be awful sweet.... what could I send back to you? Want my 4 seeds, lol?
Hmmm ... I don't know, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunities down the road. I still have a bunch of seeds, I think. So go ahead and keep ~all~ four.
Thanks for the torenia seed information, critter. Maybe I'll try collecting the seed and sow it in a cold frame in the spring. I don't have a lot of indoor growing space and I have a good local nursery that carries a large selection of interesting annuals in the spring at reasonable prices so it is easier to just buy the instant color. It's not as much fun to buy rather then sow the seeds yourself but I always have a time crunch in the spring.
Lucky you wonderearth to have a long growing season. I'll have to remember Annies Annuals for next spring.
I do have a question about how you all handle the fall filler planting. The torenia, callibrochoa and other annuals all look good now but I know once the frost hits they'll die. So do I pull them out now and put in the winter pansies? Do you pot the summer annuals you pull out to keep them going to the bitter end?
wonderearth - I discovered Flowering Tobacco two years ago and I'm hooked! I will never be without it. It's now my second favorite flower, next to Primulas. I love the way it self-seeds and the evening fragrance is heavenly!
Right now, here in Mass., we've had a few nights in the low 40's, but the tobacco is still doing well.
Semper, your picture is AWESOME!! I love the torenia you have. I'm going to have to add that to my wish list!!! Can you squeeze in some Winter pansies so they have time to get settled in before ripping out the "good stuff" that is still in good shape? could you just trim a little of the existing stuff back a little to make room for the pansies. You could have the best of both worlds that way for a short time longer.
Ever wonder why we're so hooked on such an ephemeral form of beauty?
Naw, me neither.
8* )
I'm so sorry, somehow I lost track of this thread. Thank you psych for the compliment and suggestion. Duh, just cut back the annuals and add the pansies- the best of both- of course! I did move some of the torenia to make room for the pansies and just replanted them in the driveway weed strip.
Pagancat - maybe in part, because we value the elusive and fleeting as special. I always think about why, when the "red flower" in the distance, that catches the eye, on closer inspection turns out to be a piece of plastic or other debris I question the idea of beauty.
The asters are blooming beautifully now and attracting many bees, skippers, butterflies and other insects. This one is a skipper.
A Monarch. I can't even count the number of insects, etc., attracted to the asters. Since they bloom so late in the season, during the summer I'm always tempted to pull some of them out. Now I'm happy I didn't.
Bees - not sure what kind. Other then carpenter bees I haven't seen any all season until now.
Very thoughtful answer, sempevirens, I truly appreciate it - as much as those pics!!!
I saw a neat quote once (that I'm afraid I'll have to paraphrase & probably mangle) - "When I see something that is not beautiful, I look at it longer until I see that it really is..." or something like that.
Who thought such joy could come from a piece of plastic?
heehee
Wrightie and Sempervirens-
Is this the kale that you are both talking about? http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/51764/
Thanks, Rachel
This message was edited Oct 1, 2007 2:44 PM
Yes rachierabbit, that's the kale.
Where did you get your seed from?
rachierabbit,
I got my kale seeds from "Seeds of Change" because I prefer organic.
wonderearth,
What are you planting in your fall garden? Take pictures for us in the colder climates as they start to fill in. What is that sweet little vine in your last photo called?
Pagancat,
In art school one of the best classes I had taught people to really see. When you're lost in the process of looking all things take on on a different meaning. So, I guess we can all plant plastic flowers next spring LOL. Actually some of my favorite "none gardens" are totally over the top creations with a personal vision. Whether it's on someone's lawn or in front of a store or business I enjoy people taking a chance with a none commercial vision. I frequently pass an overwhelming creation that includes about a hundred animal "sculptures, lawn ornaments" in little vignettes. It is near a major intersection in a very upscale neighborhood. There, staring you right in the face, is this wonderful personal creation. It amuses me to imagine what the neighbors think.
Oh man - I wish that class had been in my curriculum. It was supposed to be a design school, but they didn't do much about developing our creative sides.
I bet the neighbors are having a *fit*, lol. There is (believe it or not) a car much like that in either Tucson or Phoenix - simply covered with small plastic or otherwise animals. I find it interesting that cars are a new (?) palette, as well as new memorials.
But if you ever get a chance to snap a pic of that front yard, I'd love to see it!
Ditto that Semper, I'd like to see the animal front yard! Please do post a pic if you get a chance.
Pagancat,
I have seen a truck like the one you described, but that was years ago, and I think it was also associated with a business. There also was a house, on the NJ shore, in Bradley Beach, that was covered with "things" (dolls mostly) from top to bottom. Now where was my camera when I saw these interesting forms of expression? I keep meaning to take my camera to the "animal house". I will try to get a few photos for you, psych, and anyone else interested.
Now back to the fall garden, the only perennials I have blooming now are asters, Phlox, and a stray Black-eyed susan. Anybody have others still blooming?
My Salvia, allysum, petunias, marigolds, roses, Mexican Evening Primrose, Cosmos, butterfly bush... my darn Morning Glories are going to deny me the pretty show and die with cold before I get the BIG SHOW (can you tell I'm miffed?).
This is a VERY young garden, only the roses were here when I got here, so the only perennial I have blooming is the salvia but look out NEXT year! I have sooooooo many beautiful plants given to me that will beautiful!
I've got the typical roses, asters, mums, ratibida blooming now. And I've got a couple of daylilies that decided to bloom again. No new blooms on the daylilies today, or I'd post a pic. Will probably bloom tomorrow.
Oh, I forgot about my favorite heuchera, "Autumn Bride". It's happily blooming now.
Too bad about the morning glories psych.
I'd like to see photos of the daylilies if they bloom McGlory.
Ooo - those *are* impressive.
What about toad lily, Not super cottegie (that;s not a word) but it blooms in fall and then dies back leaving rooms for others
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59452/
