Autumn usually brings to mind bright red and orange foliage. In reality though, it’s more complicated; colors of every hue appear in the garden at this time of year. The dried seed heads of the native grasses, mix with chrome yellow golden rod, lavender, and purple asters.
I have a wonderful rose I picked up on a whim called Rosa ‘Balole’ which I think is Norwegian, developed by the University Of Minnesota. This little pink and white beauty burst into flower a few weeks ago and is a good combination with Hydrangea Tardiva with its flush of pale pink.
This little area of the border still looks like high summer.
Aralia elata ‘Variegata’ blooms late and has become substantial this year. It is a beautiful plant, the creamy flowers, a halo above its variegated foliage.
The seed heads of Aesculus N. parviflora, foliage turning yellow, has a quiet beauty against the dried grasses of the fields.
A while ago, a friend gave me several small saplings of a tree lilac referred to locally as “Delhi Lilac”. Syringa reticulata is multi branching, unlike the standard form you find in nurseries. I love the seed heads at this time of year- chartreuse clusters cover the tree. What a great small tree it is year round, and it grows quickly too. Thank you Lillian.
Thalictrum R. Lavender Mist’s delicate leaves turned a pale yellow now, contrast nicely against the dark green foliage of the hydrangea. We are not finished yet.