If there is one symbol of flowering fall in the northern zones, it is the "MUM." The many cultivars of chrysanthemums begin to bloom in August and extend past the first light frosts, hopefully into November. Along with pumpkins and cornstalks they are the cliched standard for fall decor. This white mum was photographed today at Aunt V's place. My shady yard produces only a few scraggly blooms.
Another lovely fall bloomer is the Japanese anemone, pictured here in the afternoon sunlight under a dawn redwood tree.
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| Japanese Anemone - probably 'Honorine Jobert' |
I always claim to know where every bulb is buried in my aunt's yard. This year some autumn "crocus" popped up where I had planted the corms and forgotten them. Do you ever wonder how the squirrels remember where they bury all their nuts? I heard a presentation from a naturalist/biology teacher this week at a gardening seminar. He suggested they need only remember 10% of their burials to survive the winter. Only a naturalist would count the number of seeds a squirrel can stuff into its cheeks--he once counted a startled squirrel's spit-out stash of 42 maple seeds (with helicopters removed)! They are known to bury more than 5,000 seeds in their winter caches. It's no wonder my lawn is so hard to maintain, with all those pesky little hoarders livin' in my big trees and buryin' all those treasures below.
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| Colchicum autumnale are in the lily family - spring crocus are in the iris family. |
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| Colorful eggplant |
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| Mum buds with perovskia |
