Not much going on to write about, so will show you some pictures taken last weekend:
3 Pumkins fresh from the garden. I took the other 2 pumpkins yesterday. These are largish carver-type, so they are sitting by the front porch being pretty. I gave the one on the right to Karen (along with a bunch of the decorative gourds), so she could decorate her apartment for the season.
Bailey's Viburnum (Pinky Winky Hydrangea flower in the foreground). Once the viburnums grow up a bit, they will give Burning Bushes a run for their money.
The Sourwood tree is still too small to really see - can't wait for it to get some size on it so it can rival the maples.
Blue Princess Holly - both female plants are just loaded with berries.
One of the Winterberries. I have a couple of different cultivars, and can't for sure tell you which one I got pictures of (either Afterglow or Red Sprite).
American Fringe Tree fruit (drupes?). Obviously this is the female plant.
Brilliantissima Chokeberry. I also have Viking, with black berries, but don't seem to have any pictures of it.
Firecracker Vine (aka Spanish Flag or Mina). Although these start flowering much earlier than fall, they don't really get large enought to see until this time of year.
I am unsure what plant these belong to. It is in the flower garden next to the steps in the driveway and comes back every year (also spreads; I ripped out a bunch this year). I do know it's not pokeweed (darn, I have some of that and should have taken a picture yesterday). If someone wants to chime in and take a guess, I will be happy to research it more, or provide more pics if needed.
That is the show for today - hope you enjoyed the colors.
Oh, Bogie, you have such beautiful plants! I think that your sourwood tree grew a bit, this year--not what I expected. Do I recall correctly that the last photo was when it was still in its "pot" and mounded in for the winter--on the right hand side of the drive as I face your house? At any rate, all of your plants and photos are gorgeous. The pumpkins look like great pies. I would be hard pressed to use them decoratively, instead!
Posted by: Cop Car | October 12, 2008 at 10:18 AM
The sourwood has never been overwintered in a pot. The last picture of it was 2 years ago, and I'm not sure it has really gorwn since then (It is a really slow grower, but jeeze it will take 40 years to get 10 ft tall at this rate).
Posted by: bogie | October 13, 2008 at 06:38 AM
Hmmmm...try as I may, I cannot find the photo that I have in my mind's eye. It seems probable that the photo either does not exist or that it was some other tree and/or some other blog. Sorry! BTW: How is your nine-bark doing? Bob McHenry (Hillside Nursery) told me, years and years ago, to expect a tree to do nothing the first year (to "crawl"), to "walk" the second, and to "run" the third, as it became settled. Except for gingkos, which are notoriously slow, that pretty much sums up my experience except that I would hold off the "running" to the fourth year.
At any rate, Karen is lucky to have the decorations, and you are good at getting the yard work done. Kudos!
Posted by: Cop Car | October 13, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Another "well, duh!" to me. You gave a link to the photo that I searched for and missed, thanks! In photos, it is hard to tell, but this year's version is not disappointing (for size) when compared to the 2006 one. Beautiful tree!
Posted by: Cop Car | October 13, 2008 at 11:37 AM
"I am unsure what plant these belong to." If you are addressing the black berries, they look just like the chokeberry bushes in the front of our house. (I've uploaded photos to my Year 2006 photo album at http://jelliclecat.typepad.com/photos/year_2006/chokeberry-2.html.) The chokeberry bushes at the side of our back yard are different--producing red berries. (If I could get my act together, you wouldn't be bombarded with so many comments!)
Posted by: Cop Car | October 13, 2008 at 05:22 PM
oh now all i can think about is pumpkin pie.mmm pie.
Posted by: bod | October 14, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Cop Car - maybe those berries are chokeberries, but I certainly didn't plant them (and they showed up before I planted the others that are pictured). The plant isn't really a shrub-type more like and it's flowers are more like an alium (but whose bracts never open - just stay green), but the stems and foliage aren't anything like alium.
I have a couple of sweet pumkins for making pies (or at least cooking with). Maybe I'll do that today.
Posted by: bogie | October 17, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Cop Car - didn't mean to gloss over your question about the ninebarks.
The one I planted last year (Summer Wine) is doing well. I planted a "Center Glow" 1-2 months ago, and it seems to be doing well, but the real test is if it makes it thru the winter.
Posted by: bogie | October 18, 2008 at 06:45 AM
I'll anxiously await word (and photos).
Posted by: Cop Car | October 18, 2008 at 09:47 AM