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[Image] Look closely above for the dragonfly waiting for some warmer temperatures before it launches from the 'Limelight' four o' clocks (Mirabilis jalapa). I took some great pictures this morning but it was definitely hooded sweatshirt weather with fall on the calendar. I sure love autumn as do many! Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. - George Eliot. Don and Pearl's border below has had "autumn tones" all year and still looks great today. Lots of activity as usual and the plant sale saga continues with plenty of customers.
[Image]Marv and Terry worked on irrigation, sprinklers, mum planting, edging and many other tasks. Janice pushmowed, [Image]planted and did lots of watering as well. Marianne was able to escape plant sale duties for a bit to finish tidying up the entrance garden. We have an event tonite (Fest-i-Fall) that includes wine, food and hopefully lots of attendees enjoying the event and gardens. It should be a nice evening for this event. Little Jerry was in to mow as was Dr. Gredler. Kay spent most of her time in the reception garden today removing spent annuals, weeding and making that space look A LOT better. Hal and Doris cleaned up their berm as well. Plant sale volunteers were very helpful today and it looks like we have ample help for the weekend portion of the sale.
Ornamental grasses are really starting to look nice out in the gardens. To the left is the Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) that blooms later than the more common feather reed grass (C[Image]alamagrostis x acutiflora). Look at the great wispy inforescences (flower/seed heads). These will turn pinkish as the leaves get a yellowish/orange fall color. I love this grass and here it is in part shade in our woodland walk garden at 3-4' tall and looking good. To the right is the variegated moor grass (Molinia caerulea 'Variegata') that tops out around 2.5' tall but is a nice bright, arching beacon in the Scottish garden here. Other Molinias tend to be taller but I like this more compact form and nice clumping habit. For a nice September blooming perennial for full sun to part shade (rich soil), try the Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis 'September Charm') seen below. I don't think this perennial and the other varieties like it can ever be overplanted. Don't let them ever dry out though! The bottom picture shows Dr. Yahr, our founder, in the entrance garden this morning. He was here at 7:15 am today!
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