Hi GPODers!
We’re ending this week back at Heronswood Garden in Kingston, Washington with Cherry Ong. A couple weeks ago, I shared her photos from two different areas in this gem of the Pacific Northwest: Part 1 in the Bog Garden and Part 2 outside the Heron House. However, Cherry saw way more at Heronswood and sent over many more photos for our enjoyment. Today, we get to explore all of the amazing specimens in Heronswood’s Perennial Garden, and tomorrow we’ll be back with Cherry to learn about her time spent with Heronwood’s Assistant Director, Rizaniño ‘Riz’ Reyes.
Some of the most exciting perennials you can plant for your fall garden are, of course, grasses! Just this week on GPOD we’ve shared so many exciting ornamental grasses in endlessly shades of red orange, yellow and green.
This two-toned beauty appears to be Little Miss dwarf maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Miss’, Zones 5–9), which looks to be holding on to its red flowers into late October instead of transforming into fluffy seed heads.
Volunteer chrysanthemum Riz Reyes grew from cuttings —More photos of Riz’s incredible chrysanthemum collecting coming in tomorrow’s post!
Aconitum’s bountiful clumps of bright purple blooms have made an appearance on GPOD a few times this fall, and it’s understandable why.
Purple pairs surprisingly well with the rest of the colors of the season while standing out from the crowd.
So many great colors and textures come together in this perennial garden, utilizing the incredible late-season blooms that are available in the Pacific Northwest as well as outstanding foliage options.
For long-lasting color (with varieties flowering from spring straight through until frost), look no further than the many types of fuchsia.
A couple of my social media friends have wondered about the melding of rhododendron and hydrangea in this photo? —What an interesting specimen, indeed! I’m thinking this is a variety of rough-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera, Zones 7–9) based on the shape and color of the leaves, though the glossiness is throwing me off a little (I often see rough-leaved hydrangea leaves described as “fuzzy”).
Considering the renowned plantsman Dan Hinkley helped to establish Heronswood in 1987, and is still involved in this amazing space, I wouldn’t be surprised if this delightful variety is something not readily available in nurseries and garden centers.
I always appreciate the Cherry captures and shares the bigger picture as well as the tiny details that make a garden magical.
While most of us seek out peak season in public gardens, it’s great to be reminded what we’re missing in the fall. As I mentioned in the intro, we’ll be back at Heronswood with Cherry tomorrow, and we’ll be getting a look at another side of public gardens that some of us may not be utilizing enough.
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Gardener’s Log Book from NYBG
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The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees
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The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area.
