Autumn Descends

Autumn is definitely in the air with cool mornings, leaves turning color and some early raking activities.  It was another beautiful day but we sure could use the rain that might appear this evening.  It is getting dry out there in non-irrigated areas!  Above is a nice shot of one of blue varieties of fragrant heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens).  We had a great day out in the gardens.  Big John, Larry H., Larry O., Terry N. and Cindy were on staff today and had a wide range of tasks including some Holiday Light Show (HLS) preparations by John, Larry H. and Terry.  We’re moving full steam ahead on the HLS set up over the coming eight weeks.

Our volunteers of Winifred, Shirley H., Kathy, Eva, Ron R., Lloyd, Dennis, Garrett, Alan, Bob K., Ron Y., Dave, Vern, Steve, Jim, Dick H., Dick P., Rollie, Dr. Gredler, Maury, Chuck S. and many others had a productive day with myriad projects occurring throughout the day.  We also saw Becky, Maryam and many others.

‘Versicolor’ variegated giant reed (Arundo donax) – non hardy grass

‘Dakota Gold’ sneezeweed (Helenium amarum) – annual

‘Carmencita Red’ castor bean (Ricinus communis) with ‘Sky Rocket’ variegated fountain grass (Pennisetum x advena) – both annuals

fruits (drupes) of a female white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) – woody tree

Terry is already putting up lights on our outer fence!

underside of the leaf for white beam (Sorbus aria) – woody tree

variegated umbrella sedge (Cyperus albostriatus ‘Variegatus’) – not hardy

‘Nagoya White’ kale (Brassica oleracea) – annual

‘Honorine Jobert’ Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida) – perennial

‘Little Henry’ sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) – perennial

‘Solar Cascade’ goldenrod (Solidago shortii) – perennial

‘Summer Chocolate’ mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) – non hardy woody (above and below)

‘Black and Blue’ blue anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) – annual

‘Patio Sky Blue’ gentian sage (Salvia patens) – annual

‘Fireworks’ rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) – perennial

grafted Siberian cypress (Microbiota decussata) – woody shrub

sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) – perennial vine (fragrant!)

‘Evening Fragrance’ devil’s trumpet (Datura meteloides) – annual (fragrant! poisonous!)

‘Pamina’ Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis var. japonica) – perennial

‘Dark Beauty’ toadlily (Tricyrtis formosana) – perennial