Late Bloomers Are A Joy

It is so very nice to have a few late bloomers in the garden.  In October Autumn begins to wind down and most of the garden has gone to seed.  It is a real delight to still have something getting ready to bloom!

I have had this Sedum sieboldi for many years. I bought it on my one and only trip to Caprilands.  Small pink flowers with bright pink pollen have a subtle but pleasing aroma. Now that so few blooms are around they get to be the center of attention.
 

Treats for the bumblebees are down to a precious few.  It's easy to get their picture.  They are so intent on the fact that they have discovered pollen and nectar they don't care how close you get with the camera.   The Gallardias are also buzzing, but today I have a strong preference for pink.

Some Of My Plants Are Old Friends!

Many of the plants in the stone wall garden are very old friends.  While we may find a passing fancy in the new things that come along, it is the plants that we have cared for over the years that mean the most.  This pink sedum, Sedum sieboldi, originally came from a single small plant purchased on a visit to Caprilands in 1993.  It always blooms late in the season here, usually sometime in October.

This one is planted in the top of Ed's curved stone wall.  The hard freeze that we had has begun to turn the leaves pink, but the flowers still have their lovely aroma.  It's a real treat for the senses when so many of garden plants are dead or dying back.

I have three of these plants at the moment.  Planted near Ed's stone walls, this one is still green and just beginning to bloom.  It also has some weed cover that may offer some additional frost protection.  That could be baloney of course, but it makes me feel a little better about seeing a plant I love so much surrounded by weeds.

The third plant looks very nice with lots of pretty pink flowers.  Ed took special care to place this plant this spring. You can see his carefully sifted gravel at its base.   The neighboring weeds here are not yet huge.  As the weather continues to turn cold these plants will die back to ground level.
After 22 years I have formed quite an attachment to this plant.  It is one of my garden treasures.  If the plants do well this spring perhaps I will divide one to share with friends.  After all this time, I would like to keep this pretty pink plant going and going and going!

November New Growth

Death that is extensive throughout the garden at this time of year can trigger depression in an over protective gardener.  We live in an area that has four strongly different seasons and a winter of rest is the natural cycle of plants that grow here.  If we look closely, signs of early spring growth can be found now.

At the base of the stems bearing nearly dead leaves, new growth is emerging on this stonecrop.  We have a long history with this plant.  Sedum sieboldii was purchased from Adelma Grenier Simmons at her retail nursery Caprilands on May 15,1993.  Placed in the garden at the edge of a stone path, it struggled to stay alive.  The pictured plant was moved from the garden to a gap in the top of the wall that leads to the basement.  Here this plant has prospered.  Adelma is now gone but her plant lives on here.  We pass by this spot several times each day and remember that special day and a meeting with a special person.

At first glance, this looks like a bit of a mess.  Beneath the mass of dead stems, vigorous new growth is happening now.  Mammoth Pink is the name of this chrysanthemum and it looks like it plans to be here next season.  We leave the dead stems in place by design.  When the ground freezes solidly, we will cut these stems and place them above this new growth.  That light airy cover will help the plants come through winter.  We will then look for a place for all of the new plants.  That amount of garden space does not exist here so much of this will be composted.  Any spring visitors are welcome to share in the bounty.

New England asters are native here.  If we remember to pinch them back, they make excellent garden subjects.  If we fail to give them that early attention, their beautiful purple flowers will stand at the top of tall stems covered with dead brown leaves.  This hot pink naturally occurring sport was moved from its wasteland home to the garden only recently.  It appears to have taken to the new location.  At least four separate plants are putting out growth that will survive winter.

Here is more new growth on the top of the stone wall defining the entrance into the basement. Lichens constantly amaze me.  How a plant can find both anchorage and nutrition atop a hard stone remains an unanswered puzzle.  The texture of our native sandstone invites a second look.  What color is that stone?

Snow will soon be here.  One tractor lost its mower and gained tire chains and a plow.  Pros will soon be here to install the snow blower on the other tractor.  Plants are making their own preparations for the change in the season and we will also soon be ready.

My Pet Peppermint Geranium

If you are unfamiliar with scented geraniums, let me tell you about this one. It's big fuzzy leaves have a wonderful peppermint fragrance. The scent is released whenever the plant is touched or watered. For a plant, it makes a very nice pet. Of course no pet is perfect and this plant is no exception. Here in upstate NY, it needs to be brought inside before frost. Some years when we have our gardening act together, we take cuttings and bring those in. This year is not one of those years and so a big pot will be necessary. It's growth is compact, but it is not a small plant.
(Picture a German Shepard not a St. Bernard.) It's time to move that job up on the list.

I'm pretty attached to this particular plant. I bought it on a trip to Caprilands back in 1993 when I was totally enthralled with herbs. I am pleased to see that Adelma Simmon's place is being restored. She signed the book I bought"all Garden Joys and Herbal Magic" as I'm sure she did everyone's. Yes! This plant is special!