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The Garden Awakens

Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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November HIghlights





I didn't think there was much left to see in the garden but there is. The morning started out with a bit of fog and this beautiful sunrise -

And there are quite a number of colorful trees still going strong and some just beginning to change colors. Some of the first trees I planted were two Japanese maples that are next to the deck. These were unnamed varieties but are nice but quite different in fall color. They both change color very late in the season compared to the other maples in the garden. The one on the right side is redder in color...


 while the one on the left is more orange and gold -


The "Lion's Head" Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira') was already planted here when we arrived. I ended up moving it and put it in a large pot. It looks a bit ragged last year but improved this year with more watering. And the color this year is dramatically improved -
Lion's Head Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira')
 The Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum), also next to our back deck, is also more colorful this year -
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
The Perisan Parrotia (Ironwood) continues to hold its leaves and I would say it has been the prettiest tree in the garden this fall. The colors are just spectacular.
Persian Parrotia (Ironwood)

  That is about it for the trees. Most of the others have already lost all their leaves. I will highlight some colorful shrubs in the next post.

 Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. chavlinessNovember 13, 2019 at 10:37 AM

    The flowering season is over, and most leafs are gone, but there is always something happening in the garden. Is autumn much different here then in Alabama?

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    1. Phillip OliverNovember 13, 2019 at 10:30 PM

      It was very similar. The winters in north Alabama were also similar to here. The major difference are the temperature fluctuations. They tend to lower and rise here on a steady scale while in Alabama it was not unusual to have 60 degree days followed by 20 degree ones.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 14, 2019 at 4:27 AM

    A beautiful sunrise photo. These trees still look gorgeous.

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