As seasons go, the beauty of the late fall garden is probably my favorite. Spring is easy to be fond of, given the doldrums of the winter season and ones desire
to see something green. Many plants reveal showy blooms and transform from branches to leafy green masses. Spring brings us back to life.
Fall is the second coming and rivals spring with all of her glorious color hues. We flock to rural locations to take it all in and savor the last grand display mother nature has to offer before all goes dormant.
Oftentimes, considering plants in the landscape that will provide fall color is forgotten. We tend to select species for their spring attributes and less for what characteristics they can bring to the fall color spectrum. A well thought-out landscape provides plants that will carry the landscape from beginning to end and keep the landscape interesting into the early winter.
We also tend to consider only what woody ornamentals can do in the fall. Many perennials and groundcovers can also add to the wonderfully, bright brush strokes during this time of year. When a landscape is well planned the beauty of the fall garden is unrivaled. Take this fall season as an example. The colors displayed by all types of plants have been nothing short of outstanding, although fall color can vary from year to year, most fall seasons don’t disappoint. Notable is how most plants contribute to the show with their own shade of color and form as they work in unison creating a masterful grand finale.
A few woody plants that should be considered on fall color alone; Hydrangea quercifolia, Fothergilla gardenii, Rhus typhina, Hamamellis ‘Arnold Promise’, Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’.
Perennials include; Plumbago, Geranium, Huechera, Sporobolus, Panicum, and Penstemon ‘Huskers Red’.
When working with customers to design a landscape that will deliver maximum performance, we spend ample time not only designing for the spring but more importantly for the final grand display of fall. A landscape designed with this in mind is far superior and gratifying than those that have little to be enthused about during one of the best outdoor times of the year.
Fall is Mother Nature’s way of preparing us for the white’s and gray’s of the long winter season ahead.
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