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September Surprises

It is always a thrill to stumble across a plant that I may have forgotten about or one that does something unexpected. That has happened several times over the past weeks.  First, the vine pictured above is the Eastern Prince Schisandra vine ( Schinensis chinensis ), also known as "Magnolia Vine".  I purchased it in May of 2023 from One Green World in Portland. I don't know what attracted me to it, other than the fact that I'd never heard of it before and the description sounded nice.  I didn't forget about this plant; in fact, it has grown quite vigorously up an archway at the entrance to our woodland path. It shares space alongside the rose 'Lamarque'.  I did forget that it produces berries, so I was surprised when I looked up and saw them dangling over the top of the arbor.  The berries are used in Chinese medicine. They are called the "Five Flavor Berry" and said to have five flavors in one - sweet, salty, bitter, tangy and sour.  Chinese le...
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A vase before the frost

We've had a few frosts during the last week. There were still lots of blooms left in the garden so I cut a few of them before the cold snap. 

 The rose 'Gold Medal', one of our favorite hybrid teas, is sending up 6 feet stalks that we see outside the bathroom window. The hydrangeas are still covered with dramatic, dark purple balls of color. I don't have many dahlias in the garden and I don't recall where the orange one came from but it is very pretty. Dahlias are to be dug up after the first frost so that is a chore I must do this week. There is another pretty pom-pom dahlia called 'Lolipop' in the front garden that I purchased at a Master Gardener plant sale shortly after we moved.

 I have been very pleased with Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) although it has gotten much bigger than expected. It is too tall for the front of the border it resides in and I would like to transplant it before spring.

 And in the rear is the remnants of Goldenrod, a good filler flower for an arrangement but so, so messy.

 Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 12, 2018 at 10:25 AM

    Such a striking combination of blooms. Those golden roses really pop in that color wave. Happy IAVOM.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AaronNovember 13, 2018 at 5:58 AM

    Nice combination! What makes goldenrod so messy -- just in a vase or in general?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverNovember 13, 2018 at 8:40 AM

      The dried blooms are very tiny and fall everywhere when disturbed.

      Delete
  3. Hoover BooNovember 13, 2018 at 3:47 PM

    Ohmygosh the color of those hydrangea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Endah MurniyatiNovember 14, 2018 at 6:49 PM

    Beautiful! The color of hydrangea is so stunning!

    ReplyDelete

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