Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried ornamental peppers? The black variety looks so cool.

I love the purple-foliage ornamental peppers. But they basically just are annuals in this region--though I managed to overwinter some last year. Not sure it is worth the effort although I succumbed to temptation and added two new ones to my planters last month. Certainly, the purple ornamental kale is a lot hardier.

Anonymous wrote:I'm really enjoying all the blue and purple fall asters, especially Raydon's Favorite and October skies.

This is the first year I've had ornamental grasses and I don't know how I've gone this long without Little Blue Stem -- it's stunning.

Also in my herb garden, I love how the annual pineapple sage takes over at this time of year with its cheery red flowers.

For some reason, I have always been a little "meh" on asters. This year I did a bit of an about-face on them though. I realized that the varieties I had planted before were not really working for my garden (basically were scraggly, mildewy and pretty darn uninspired by this time of year). This year I added and am also enjoying October Skies as well as a bushy pink one, Woods Pink, I believe.

Has anyone tried ornamental peppers? The black variety looks so cool.

Fothergilla -- bluish foliage in spring and summer, bright red in fall. Pretty bottle brush white flowers.

Really enjoying a variety cranesbill I'm seeing in the neighborhood too.

I'm really enjoying all the blue and purple fall asters, especially Raydon's Favorite and October skies.

This is the first year I've had ornamental grasses and I don't know how I've gone this long without Little Blue Stem -- it's stunning.

Also in my herb garden, I love how the annual pineapple sage takes over at this time of year with its cheery red flowers.

Anonymous wrote:Just cleared a couple of raised beds in the house we bought two years ago. They formerly had weeds and some awful, messy flowering tree. Now one has a forsythia, another has a burning bush, and a third has a mugo pine. I also divided a few alliums and daffodils and moved them into the newly cleared beds nearly the edges.

FYI Burning bush is Tier 2 invasive: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/burning-bush/

Just cleared a couple of raised beds in the house we bought two years ago. They formerly had weeds and some awful, messy flowering tree. Now one has a forsythia, another has a burning bush, and a third has a mugo pine. I also divided a few alliums and daffodils and moved them into the newly cleared beds nearly the edges.

I got weigela for burgundy foliage and they are thriving with minimal care. Plus the blooms look beautiful in the spring.

Anonymous wrote:I am getting hardscaping done this fall/winter! Very excited to have the bones and structure put in place and then the fun can really start.

Hardscaping in the fall/winter is not a great idea. It's going to rain a lot and the freezing temps predicted to start in 2 weeks are never a good combo for mortar and stone or cement. Would be far wiser to put off these plans until late Spring.

Nothing for me beyond the bulbs, which I’m going to put in the ground and in my porch containers, too. I’m in the planning stage for a renovation that I know will be hard on the landscape so trying not to put any time or money into things that may get damaged or destroyed in the next year. But I like to see what you and others are doing for future inspiration!

I am getting hardscaping done this fall/winter! Very excited to have the bones and structure put in place and then the fun can really start.

Bartsella is a gorgeous Itoh. You won’t regret it.

Putting aside the obligatory fall bulbs*, does anyone have any fun plans for autumn planting?

I am thinking of adding two (2) tiny wine or diabolo ninebarks--really want some dark foliage. (If anyone has better recs for MoCo clay soil, let me know; haven't pulled the trigger.)

Two peony roots (these, https://www.dutchbulbs.com/products/itoh-peony-bartzella)

I've learned to love my daisy/leucanthemums, perhaps because they did gangbusters this summer (when everything else was in various states of perishing), so dividing them up and adding some more.

Tempted to splurge on another camellia. Planted one last fall in a sort of tricky part of the garden but it is doing well (and may want a friend now ?)


*I love all the fall bulbs too, don't get me wrong!