A Seasonably Fashionable Maple for the Holidays
December always conjures up images of preparing for the Holiday season. With cookies needing to be baked, packages wrapped and family and friends visiting from afar, there is little time to focus on the garden. It is a shame, since there are a number of plants that look seasonally fashionable and retain their cheerful colors throughout the winter. A tree I have always deemed most appropriate for the season is the Coral Bark Japanese Maple or Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku’.
Bruce Crawford
November is here! The cool to cold nights of October, combined with the ample rainfall has allowed most of our trees to erupt into a bonanza of spectacular colors. In addition, the soil is adequately moist to bring plants safely into the start of winter without the worry of drought. The light to heavy frosts of October have started to impact our annuals but very soon, they will need to be removed with the onset of truly cold weather. Even though the weather is becoming cooler, there is still much to do in the Garden before it can be put to bed for winter!
Ceratostigma – Practical and Beautiful
October marks the true start of autumn and much work for the gardener! It is now a race against time to complete our chores before that first heavy frost. September was a fairly dry month, so watering chores are certainly high on the list, especially for new plantings! Always remember to take a moment and make some notes about your garden. Among other details, take note of what annuals are still looking respectable, which late season vegetables are living up to expectations, and perhaps what woody plants or perennials should be added to enhance the autumn garden for next year!
Blackberry Lily – An Iris for Many Seasons
