Monday, October 15, 2012

October GBBD: After the Freeze

What a difference a week can make! In my last post I was in a state of denial that summer would soon end, but within twenty-four hours, I had a rude awakening.

I awoke Monday morning to find not only the ground covered in frost, but much of the garden frozen in place.  The zinnias and cosmos blooming away in that last post had turned to a black mush.  A few green peppers that I had forgotten to pick in the vegetable garden soon became pepper soup.



Between the freeze and the rainy, blustery weekend that made taking pictures nearly impossible,  there's not much new to show for this October Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.  A few new Dianthus blooms have appeared in the pot where they have resided--along with the same potting soil!--undisturbed for several years.  It's taken me awhile, but I've finally learned that deadheading them regularly will keep them reblooming all summer.



There are a few annuals that survived the freeze, such as the geraniums, some petunias, and even the verbena, but the showier containers have new annuals in them.

Ruffled kale is one of my favorites for fall containers.  Depending on how low the temperatures get once winter arrives, this plant can last a long time.



Pansies, of course, are always a staple in my fall containers.  My earlier state of denial about the approaching cold weather was not a good thing in this case, because by the time I was in the mood to buy pansies, there wasn't much of a selection left.  I did find something new this year, though--a 'Cool Wave' pansy that is supposed to cascade down the sides of a pot, much like a 'Wave' petunia.  We'll see if it lives up to its hype.



And every fall, I must have mums.  Some gardeners may dismiss these ubiquitous fall plants, but I can't seem to resist them, even though they usually end up on the compost pile at the end of the season.  This particular mum, though, is a special one--not only did it overwinter outside, which doesn't happen often for me, but it survived the winter confined in a pot! 



The freeze wasn't enough to affect many of the perennials.  Knockout roses, 'Becky' daisies, and even some Rudbeckia have been invigorated by the cooler weather.  'October Skies' asters continue to bloom their hearts out.  The only truly new bloom this month was a mystery plant that I had suspected was a weed.  Sure enough, it is some type of goldenrod that found its way into the lily bed.  It looks rather pretty here where little else is blooming, but it will definitely be pulled before it has a chance to set seeds.  Sorry, goldenrod, but you belong in the butterfly garden, not here.

 

October is all about fall color, and that can certainly be seen in the shade garden, where gold is the new fashionable color.



"Dying gracefully" seems an apt way to describe this area as it puts out one last burst of color before going into winter hibernation.



There is much yet to be done in the garden, and there is still time to enjoy its beauty.  But the days are definitely getting shorter, and there is no denying now that the end of gardening season is drawing near.


What is blooming in your garden today?  Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted the 15th of each month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. 

28 comments:

  1. My hostas are mostly yellow too Rose. It has been a cold fall so far. Love that ruffly kale and the pansies are sweet. Happy GBBD.

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  2. The hosta picture is beautiful. Sorry the freeze came. I was surprised when my husband said it was a miserable weekend up there. I was in Louisville and we had an awesomely beautiful weekend and the two are not really so far from one another. Sigh. Time to think toward the spring garden I guess.

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  3. Frost surely is that mark of change in the garden. We have not had frost yet but have gotten very close. I simply love that photo of your hostas in autumn...so lovely. Happy GBBD!

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  4. I like the two-toned dark purple and lavender pansy, very pretty. I put in some with dark blue and soft yellow petals. Your overwintered mum did well to survive in its pot, and it is so full of blooms.

    I smiled at the goldenrod trying to pretend it is a lily.

    Your Hosta have kept nice looking leaves with the gold change. Most of mine changed so quickly, and then collapsed from the frost, so I didn't get many with that thick golden look.

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  5. I was shocked to see my garden ruined from our first frost that happened while I was out of town. Thankfully, the roses are still blooming. I just wasn't ready to let go of them yet.

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  6. We had our first frost overnight Friday night. When I got up Saturday morning, the temperature was still below freezing (28), and the annuals all looked like they had survived. Once it got above freezing, though, and they thawed, the poor things look like seaweed!

    I had mums in pots come back this year, too, and a couple in the garden, which is unusual for us as well. I like having some in pots so I can move them around to where I need the extra color.

    And, my petunias also survived the frost. I had not realized they were that hardy!

    Your hosta is pretty all in yellow!

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  7. Lots of beauty in your garden. My garden is done. Alas.

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  8. Only light frost for us so far Rose but still a surprise as we often do not get frost until November. I enjoyed seeing your October blooms. The area with the hostas, brunnera etc. looks stunning - now that's going out in style :)

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  9. So many plants up here make it through the freeze, but the Hosta always turns to mush. You Hosta has nice color.

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  10. Hi Rose, Belated happy GBBD! Frost hit my garden as well. Now there is very little left, but a few roses. I will be interested to hear how the cascading pansy does. I really like pansies and if it performs nicely for you, I would love to look for it next spring. Love that mauve Kale. It really does well into the fall doesn't it?

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  11. It's so fascinating to compare notes with you, Rose, because we're so close and yet I'm north of you. My Hostas have collapsed. I remember that last year they looked like yours for a bit before dying off. But most of my annuals are still thriving. Weird. Maybe it's because they're on the west side of the house, right next to the house, and they bake in the afternoon. Microclimates are fascinating, aren't they?

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  12. Rose you still have much color in your garden! I have enptied all mine in prep. for the winter.
    Once Nov. arrives one never knows when the snow will come.
    I look to Autumn bursts of color in the trees and pumpkins.

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  13. The cascading pansy looks very interesting. Lovely combo of colors too!

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  14. Fantastic flowers, miraculous colours. I am greeting

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  15. I love your coneflower picture with the frost on it. The first frost really opens up some great photo opportunities.
    I have one color mum, from last year. I am going to move them to the back for next year's color. The mums come back each year here.
    I think I would leave the Goldenrod in the lily area...color for later in the year.

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  16. No frost here, yet! Even though it's been cold, the full freeze hasn't happened. But the end of the season is definitely setting in. I finally got my bulbs planted last weekend!

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  17. Love the bed of hostas and heucheras with all the various colours. Going out in a blaze of glory. I too like mums at this time of year, big bunches of them with pumpkins are my idea of a fall display.

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  18. Despite your frost Rose, everything looks so beautiful. I really enjoy seeing everyone's end-of-year photos. Makes me wistful yet looking forward to some hibernating. :-)

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  19. Love that golden hosta foliage, Rose! I don't ever remember hostas having a chance to turn like that here until the last few years. They'd usually get hit by frost while they were still green. I do enjoy seeing them turn into such beautiful, sunny colors at a time when sunshine can be somewhat lacking.

    You still have a lot of nice bloom going on in spite of the frost!

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  20. The sedums are still blooming but looking more tatty. Theres nothing much else blooming in my garden.
    Yours still has many lovely things. I like the coloured ornamental cabbages. They would be devoured in minutes by all my slugs if I had them.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  21. Wonderful freeze photo - that cone flower makes me shiver. Your garden seems to have survived remarkably well. We've only had light freezes but nothing much is blooming now.

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  22. Thanks all for visiting. My blogging time has been limited this week, so I'm going to visit each of your blogs instead of writing individual replies here this time. It is interesting to note the differences in weather even in similar zones and how it's affected plants differently. I should explain that almost all my annuals are in unprotected areas, so when the frost hit, they didn't have shelter from the wind or the house behind them to keep them warm. Microclimates do make a difference!

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  23. You have some great plants and pictures. Deadheading is boring but so worth it later.

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  24. I can understand how suprised you were the frost came in. The gardeningseason is on the end. Overhere my hosta are also in yellow colored. I am so pleased having photo's left to see in winter. It brings me through the dark days.
    Have a wonderful weekend Rose.

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  25. Rose girl ! How are you ?
    I missed taking pictures of frosted flowers .. yours were nice to see: )
    Yes .. left over chores in the garden .. I am very slowly knocking them off. I still have 3 climbing roses to arrive and for me to plant .. I have never done roses this lat but it is an Ontario company and they must know what they are doing right ? LOL ..
    I also must have mums .. and pumpkins .. just a habit I can't break .. although I missed having flowering kale .. mental note for next year!
    Now for winter to slowly creep in .. bundle up girl! it is going to be a long one!!
    Joy : )

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  26. That first photo looks so sad!

    The others are all lovely as always.

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  27. Rose girl I had to come back and wish you a Happy Halloween too !
    This year I am totally deflated so my Halloween decorations are rather sad .. but like Linus, I just know that next year the Great Pumpkin will visit and approve of my decorations for 2013!! after all .. it is "13" right? LOL
    Take Care girl !
    Joy : )

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