Fall Colours 2010

The Fungus Among Us

101 Series: Ornamental Grass

101 Series:

Ornamental Grass

Perennial Ornamental Grass

There are many varieties of ornamental grasses suitable for planting in your landscape. Advantages of using grasses in the garden are:

1. Ease of and minimal maintenance

2. Dramatic effect

3. Height

4. Winter interest

Selecting depends on what look you are trying to achieve; ie creating tall architectural backdrops versus front of garden edging grasses.

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis) is upright in growth habit. The variety called "Karl Forester" is the most commonly used in landscaping and won the coveted title of "Perennial of the Year" in 2001.

Japanese or Chinese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensus) encompasses a number of varieties including some with variegated foliage.

Purple Moor Grasses (Molinia) are not actually purple in colour. These typically have dense foliage at the base and long scapes with sparse panicles at the top. They have a see-through look to them.

Japanese Blood Grass, Blue Oat Grass, Blue Fescue, Japanese Forest Grass are all beautiful when used near the front of a garden.

Annual Ornamental Grass

The only grasses that we use which are NOT perennial and must be planted every year are Fountain Grasses. These are the dark purple or red coloured grasses and are well worth the expense of replacing every year!

Care of Grasses

Plant perennial ornamental grasses in the spring if you know exactly which variety you want. Otherwise, it would be recommended that you do your research in the fall by visiting garden centres or botanical gardens to view grasses at the peak of their season. This way you can write down the name of the grasses you like and plant them the following spring.

Best practice is to cut the grasses to within 3"-6" from the base in the spring before new growth appears. They will provide winter interest to your garden during the months you need it the most. If you do not wish to have the grasses up all winter, they can be cut in the fall with no adverse effects.

"Julia Child" Floribunda Rose

The Julia Child rose was chosen by the famous chef before her passing to bear her name. She loved the buttery yellow colour and the sweet licorice-spice scent.

I have planted several varieties of roses at York Downs but none have come close to the quality of this rose. It is a beautifully compact shrub with dark green glossy leaves and beautiful roses. This has been in bloom for many months now and is showing no signs of fading! The photos above were taken on September 22, 2010. If you find it in the garden centres next spring, I highly recommend finding a spot for it in your sunny garden. You won't be disappointed.

Tuberous Begonias

Tuberous begonias are a beautiful annual that give interest to any partial sunny garden. A couple of years ago I purchased some tuberous begonias at the garden centre which were in full bloom at the time. At the end of the season I decided to save the tubers, which look like hard whithered plums, in a cool dry place where I also store dahlia bulbs. This is the second year that I have recovered them from their winter dormancy and planted them amongst other perennials. I'm never that dependant on them, I just consider them a bonus if they 'take'. I plant them with about an inch of soil above the bulb/tuber and water them in. After that I forget about them while I worry about all the other garden plants and sure enough, they pop up and are beautiful every time.

Monarch Butterfly on Burdock

Euphorbia 'Bonfire'

Foggy Sunrise

Double Tiger Lilies: "Flore Pleno"

Lilium

Dahlia

Butterfly Garden @ 5 North

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

Daylilies in Bloom

Looking Up.

8 South Garden

Alot of people tell me the garden at 8 South tee is their favourite.

Cedar Waxwing

Sighted on Canada Day, between 9 West and 9 South.

Shasta Daisy: "Phyllis Smith"

Lady's Mantle and Creeping Jenny

Of all the possible combinations, I think this is my favourite. Lady's Mantle and Creeping Jenny.

Lady' Mantle is a beautiful yet understated perennial that is not used nearly enough. It's versatility in sun requirements and it's sheer beauty makes it a lovely plant for the front of borders. Creeping Jenny is perfect cascading amongst the rocks and benefits from the shade that the Lady's Mantle provides.

American Goldfinch

A pair feeding on the seeds of Nepeta Mussinii at the clubhouse.

5:45am on a Saturday Morning....

Hydrangea: Blue Billows

Painted Turtle @ 9 North

Echinacea Pallida

The first echinacea to bloom!