This October post focuses on late flowers and fabulous foliage plants.
We haven't had a killing frost yet and there is not one on the horizon. That means it's been a perfect autumn for Tricyrtis blooms. T. macranta has never put on such a good display. Can't believe the rabbits have not touched it. Maybe that's because they keep munching on fern foliage.
Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki' has a dramatic arching form. I moved a few stems of this plant to the top of the wall by the stone steps into the front garden where it is beginning to put on a nice little show.
Tricyrtis hirta 'Lightning Strike' has striped foliage which means it looks great whether it flowers or not. But this year it has so many flowers that the stems are arching out like my other hirta varieties. This one is also much easier to see now that the Upper Pool is filled with gravel.
I have such a large swath of Tricyrtis 'formosana' along the back of the driveway border that I moved a few plants to the other end of the border. They are doing beautifully, though the original group has been mowed down twice by the rabbits.
Lots of local gardeners have been posting images of their autumn Crocus but mine just finally appeared. Now I need to make a note to add more while I can remember where they're located.
These little flowers are being consumed by their neighbors. I may have to dig out some of the Epimedium before it kills them.
My first attempt at growing Cyclamen has gone so well that I added four more plants last spring. Alas one was dug out and destroyed immediately by rabbits, but the remainder are doing nicely. This is C. hederafolium which you can see I bought for the foliage.
Not a bloom but a nice autumn surprise, Podophyllum hexandrum reappeared.
Arum italicum 'Ghost' puts on such a spectacular display that I need to move it to a spot where it's more visible. Since it is summer dormant, it is hidden behind larger plants. That means you can barely see it when it is having its big moment.
We took out a dying Austrian pine last winter to give Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' more light and more room to spread out. It's just starting its fall color.
Not only is it a great Toad Lily season, it is a great mushroom season. Suddenly they're everywhere.
The shady and somewhat moist strip between my driveway border garden and my neighbor's exploded with mushrooms.
The size, shape and color seem to change daily.
Love this little guy who found a home for himself in the stone wall at the end of the border.
To see what's blooming in other gardens, hop over here to the sponsor of this meme.
I love the toad lilies but the mushrooms are also quite impressive! I can't say I've ever seen such a display here even during the height of our rainy season.
Posted by: Kris P | Friday, October 15, 2021 at 12:24 PM
KIRS — Everyone around here is commenting on how many mushrooms they were seeing.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Friday, October 15, 2021 at 02:22 PM
That Tricyrtis macrantha is just dreamy! While those mushrooms are fun.
Posted by: danger garden | Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Love that Arum, and your toad lilies are outstanding! I just planted some from a friend this weekend. I am looking over at my cyclamen that I'd expected to last about as long as a pot of hyacinths, and am wondering if I should plant it outside and see what happens. I don't really want to kill it, but I also didn't plan on having it be a permanent addition to the house plants. Decisions!
Posted by: Kristin | Monday, October 18, 2021 at 10:12 AM