Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – November 2007

By Nancy J. Ondra – Posted in: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day

This post is now available at Hayefield:

http://hayefield.com/2007/11/15/garden-bloggers%e2%80%99-bloom-day-%e2%80%93-mid-november-2007/

Nancy J. Ondra

Nancy J. Ondra

Nan gardens on 4 acres in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In the firm belief that every garden ought to have a pretentious-sounding (or at least pretentious-looking) name, she refers to her home grounds as "Hayefield." There, she experiments with a wide variety of plants and planting styles, from cottage gardens and color-based borders to managed meadows, naturalistic plantings, and veggies--all under the watchful eyes of her two pet alpacas, Daniel and Duncan.
Nancy J. Ondra

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John November 15, 2007, 7:37 am

Wonderful planting design, textures, and colors–a stunning example of multi-season interest that goes way beyond flowers.

Pam/Digging November 15, 2007, 9:48 am

Forget blooms. You have fantastic color and texture in foliage, as well as an amazing sense of design. Your garden is beautiful, even without flowers. That Gulf Coast muhly and Arkansas bluestar combination is stunning.

By the way, how does that Angelina sedum do for you in PA’s winters? Does it die back? If not, do you give it any winter protection?

lisabee November 15, 2007, 1:37 pm

Fall looks gorgeous in your garden!!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter November 15, 2007, 2:14 pm

Your grasses are beautiful! I also have Physocarpus ‘Diabolo,’ but mine has turned a Ruby Cabernet color (makes me thirsty every time I look at it).

Nancy J. Ondra November 15, 2007, 5:35 pm

Thanks, all, for stopping by. I really appreciate the kind comments.

Pam, ‘Angelina’ is practically bomb-proof here; no sort of winter protection required. In fact, it’s even better in winter, when the shoot tips turn rich orange. I didn’t expect it to thrive in my somewhat heavy, winter-wet soil, but it has performed beautifully and even self-sows.

Kim November 15, 2007, 6:21 pm

Wow, Nan… WOW. I’m echoing Pam: Who needs flowers when you have all of this color and texture already?!

I’m glad to hear that ‘Angelina’ is practically bomb-proof in your area, as that means it will probably be okay in my well-draining soil and fairly similar temperatures. I just bought some and love the chartreuse color–mine hangs out with a purple salvia lyrata instead of ‘Obsidian’ heuchera, but to a similar effect. (Although I believe that I definitely need some ‘Obsidian’ too, after seeing yours…)

Oh, and although I have some amsonia tabernaemontana that I’m very excited about, I think I need a. hubrichtii as well… that color and the fine foliage together is just amazing.

Nancy J. Ondra November 15, 2007, 7:36 pm

Ok, ok–I promise to whine no longer about not having many flowers. But honestly, it was just so gloomy here today that my soggy seedheads and waterlogged foliage simply weren’t thrilling me. I spent much of the day checking out other GBBD posts instead of working, simply to get my color fix. And yes, you need Amsonia hubrichtii. If you’re interested in seeds or seedlings, let me know!

Carol November 15, 2007, 8:47 pm

I also have an Amsonia, but mine is a different species. The blue flowers can’t be beat, and you’ll definitely get a lot of seeds from it.

I agree with everyone else, your garden looks magnificent this fall.

Thanks for posting for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day!

Melinda November 15, 2007, 9:05 pm

Wow, what beautiful colors and textures! I just want to reach out and feel how soft the grasses are! That pink muhly grass is gorgeous… wow.

jodi November 15, 2007, 11:33 pm

These photos are breathtaking! That grass border, and the shot with the amsonia, made my heart ache with pleasure. With so many great textures, who really needs a lot of flowers? The garden looks wonderfully moody, perfect for November.

Annie in Austin November 16, 2007, 1:18 am

The palette is so subtle but so rich – it looks lovely, Nan. Your long front border is superb.

One element you seem to achieve more easily in the north is mystery… maybe it comes with the densely twiggy deciduous trees? Broadleaved evergreen oaks have a different kind of appeal and romance .

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Kris at Blithewold November 16, 2007, 7:15 am

It was the pink muhly grass and amsonia that made me say “oo!” right out loud. And the border with the rose … yum. (Is it impolitic of me to say I think blooms this time of year are unnecessary? I’m loving the colorful change of focus!)

Benjamin November 16, 2007, 12:12 pm

I’m happy to know Angelina does well in winter. I picked one up at HOME DEPOT of all places in early fall on close out, and it’s already turned orange all over. In fact, a lot of my ground cover sedums–never tried before–have turned wonderful deep reds, bright oranges, and coppers. Hurrah for ground cover sedum of almost any variety. And evryone, get on those amsonia h., they are wonderful plants.

Nancy J. Ondra November 16, 2007, 2:34 pm

Hey, all–it’s great to see both new and return visitors among you. Flower-filled it is not, but “moody” and “mysterious” certainly could describe the garden, at least as it appears in these snapshots. I think the frost-to-fog transition had something to do with it–and yes, perhaps the skeletons of the deciduous trees, as well!

Ki November 17, 2007, 9:51 pm

Everytime I see monkshoods in catalogs I think they are interesting and exotic flowers but have thought they would be difficult to grow. I think they were featured recently in the Horticulture magazine too. I don’t know where I got the idea they had some special requirement to grow but seeing your photo has made me decide that I should plant this species next year. Thanks for the photo.

Judy Ringrose April 15, 2008, 11:03 am

I love your grass border, particularly the Muhlenbergia capillaris. Truly beautiful. I have been trying to find the same plant or seed in the United Kingdom, but haven’t managed to find a supplier yet……

Thank you, Judy! It’s a long wait until October for it to bloom, but it’s worth it. I hope you can find some to try.
-Nan

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