Songwriter Cheryl Wheeler sings “when fall comes to New England, the sun slants in so fine”. Indeed, and misty mornings greet the superb range of coloring in this part- shade garden. Rusts, yellows, greens, and blues all add to the texture of the different plant forms and masses. I always find it amazing that dying fern fronds become lovely features in this garden at this time of year.
The foliage tapestry is composed of PJM rhododendron, lace-leaf Japanese maple, blue spruce,oak leaves, blue and yellow hostas, Siberian iris, Daphne, and ferns. Look for the splashes of vivid blue created by the late flowering species aconitum. It’s lovely and poisonous so I wouldn’t recommend it around toddlers who might want to eat it. I’ve positioned mine way behind other plants that bloom earlier throughout our growing season so its tall stalks view easily now, but difficult to reach. By the way, what you see behind the aconitum is the wetland and forest of changing autumn leaves of the lovely “borrowed” view I covet.
Leave a Reply