Fall Arrives in Tiger Way Gardens

Wow, October already? Does anyone else feel the way I do that this year has passed all too quickly? I am sure it really hasn't but it just seems that way. Even in October in Tennessee we have busy gardens so today I thought I'd share a few pictures with you from the farm. Helianthus 'Maximilian' is a wonderful fall bloomer that the bees love.

Right next to the 'Maximilian' are Tatarian asters (Aster tataricus). I really like these asters. They grow in sun or shade and get quite tall. They hold their own when planted at the back of the border with other tall perennials like the 'Maximilian', and also some Joe Pye weed. The foliage of the tatarian aster is quite lovely too.

Speaking of bees this particular shrub is a bee magnet. It is 'Raspberry Profusion' Abelia hybrid. All abelias are low maintenance shrubs that have a very long bloom period. The flowers of this particular one are fragrant and long after the bloom is over the sepals remain on the plant to give the plant winter interest. The sepals are the pink colored petals that are below the actual flower. In this picture you can see the full flower and also just the sepals. Abelias grow in sun to part sun and are not picky about their soil. Bees and butterflies love abelias.

Also at the farm are some peonies. I have begun digging my many peonies from Tiger Gardens and have created a new peony/baptisia bed. There will be about 43 peonies in this bed in seven different colors. As I was digging my peonies it struck me just how massive the roots were on each clump. When I divided this one I thought I'd take a picture to show you the massive root system. The roots were fully six inches deep in large tubers. I split each of my peonies with a shovel and while that may seem extreme, as long as I have a couple of eyes on each division the peonies will regrow and bloom beautifully. This one will certainly bloom next spring due to its huge size.

Finally, another picture of the Tatarian asters. I adore these plants and fall in general....

in the garden....hoping your fall is delightful.

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Perennial Sunflowers

Fall is fast approaching, though it sure doesn't feel like it! This is the ideal time to plant for the spring, assess what went right and what didn't, and to enjoy a mature garden. Fall is my favorite season in general and in the garden. One of my favorite flowers I discovered a few years ago is Helianthus maximillianii, aka Narrow Leafed Sunflower. This sunflower is NOT to be confused with Helianthus tuberosus, aka Jerusalem Artichoke. Jerusalem artichokes spread around quite vigorously (or so I am told) and are hard to eradicate. Maximillian sunflowers will spread but are easy to pull out in my garden if I don't want them. I ordered a few plants mail order about three years ago in the fall, planted them in a part sun garden under a mature oak tree and hoped for the best.

The site is challenging and not much grows there. These sunflowers not only bloomed but have seeded themselves around and have bloomed every year. These sunflowers are perennial and birds love them. They do not require much watering. Above is a picture of them backlit by the eastern sun. Backlighting is really big in gardening now and if you can, try to highlight those small gifts Mother Nature gives us by capitalizing on them-like the sun! Any plant that is light and airy can be backlit effectively. Grasses work especially well too. Those who drive by my house on a daily basis will surely recognize these flowers as they are right by the road. So if you were wondering what they were-now you know!

in the garden.....