Monday, October 18, 2010

Garden Blogger Fall Color Project

From In the Garden
Dave at The Home Garden started a Garden Blogger Fall Color Project three years ago. This will be my third contribution to the project and it is interesting to me to see just how fall color is different each year-or perhaps it is the way I look at it? The first year I posted in this meme I posted on October 28, 2008. That year I looked at color all the way from Tennessee to Maine. I was awed by the blue skies and lovely shades of leaves above my head. Last year when I posted I posted color mainly in Upper Middle Tennessee and in my gardens. That post included blooms from my camellia tree. Interesting enough I posted on the same date in 2009 as I did in 2008 (October 28th) which was not intentional at all.

I may be a bit early this year but there is fall color in and around my home. I am afraid most trees are looking very sad though due to the drought. We've not had significant rain since mid August or so. This is most unusual for Tennessee. The fact that October is traditionally our driest month does not bode well for the rest of the month either though we are expecting a bit of rain this week. Last year's color included my camellia; which was in full bloom. The camellia has not yet begun blooming but it should begin soon enough. The one thing near the camellia that shows color is an oakleaf hydrangea. The oakleaf hydrangeas give year round interest and these shrubs just can't be beat in the garden for a kaleidoscope of color.

From In the Garden
My one hickory tree has a brilliant gold color. The hickories around my home are also looking mighty good. They are a very reliable trees for providing wonderful fall colors. The hickory nuts are just a bonus. By the way, the hickory nuts have been falling for a few weeks now so it is time to begin thinking of collecting the nuts if you wish to get them before the squirrels. It is an excellent year for all sorts of nuts. I can barely walk in my garden due to all the acorns.

From In the Garden
The crabapples are also having an excellent year. I love seeing these fruits hanging from my trees because I know the birds will eat well this winter!


From In the Garden
A tree I have always admired is the gingko. I don't have one in my garden but Skeeter has posted on the gingkos before. They are beautiful trees. We saw a very mature one at Cheekwood that had dropped its fruit everywhere. I actually thought it was persimmons until I read the sign identifying the tree as a gingko. If you plant one in your garden be sure you have a male if you do not want fruit everywhere as they can be quite prolific. At any rate the gingkos change color all at once then the leaves all fall pretty much within a day or two-all at once. I was lucky to catch this one with its leaves intact. Here it is posing next to a burning bush. Burning bushes are not good

shrubs for Tennessee gardens in my opinion, but they sure can't be beat for brilliant red coloring in the fall.
From In the Garden
Lastly I show you some nandina berries with some nice coloring on the nandina leaves. The nandinas are evergreen but do change colors with the seasons. These shrubs have interest all year round. Despite this fact I removed all of the ones with berries from my gardens due to their self seeding abilities. I did keep the dwarf form of the nandina because they do not berry up and I've not noticed them spreading in my garden. The above shrub was in the same landscape as the gingko tree at a business in Nashville.

Trees are still changing color here in my neck of the woods but I wanted to get this post out now. Notably the late changers such as Bradford pears, crepe myrtles, and Japanese maples are slow in changing or are completely brown and leafless at this time. Time will tell if they do fully color up or not. I hope so because I so enjoy fall....

in the garden....



Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

18 comments:

  1. Wow Tina, you sure do have a lot of color in your garden. The drought does seem to have caused problems with the colors. Just the same they are gorgeous.
    Hope everyone has a lovely day.

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  2. The colors are always beautiful, we are losing our leaves now but it's still nice to see the oaks hanging about.

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  3. Thanks Lola. Those hickories are just so wonderful.

    Dawn, Fall is quickly fading so that means that soon winter:(

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  4. Nice fall colors here. I must find a burning bush for my gardens. Oh those acorns do sting when they pop you on the head.

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  5. It is so nice to see the fall color in your garden. Our southern Virginia area seems a little slow this year but this weekend I am noticing tulip trees and sumac trees really in full color. Happy fall!

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  6. Thanks for reminding us of this project, Tina; I've participated before and always enjoy seeing the fall color across the country. You certainly have some lovely color in your garden in spite of the drought.

    I've noticed the maples this year seem to have been unaffected by the dry summer. They're definitely putting out a blaze of color.

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  7. Hello Everyone! I am working 12-15 hour days trying to help my parents get back into their newly renovated home! Things are moving along from my efforts so finally a moment to get on the computer!

    I have enjoyed the colors in the trees of Tennessee while on our little outings here and there across the county. Even though you see little color this fall Tina, I see tons of color as we dont have this much on a beautiful fall in Georgia! I am soaking in the glowing trees from the sun. I am glad you reminded me of the Gingko tree from my childhood. I must fit in a visit to Commerce street to see if she is giving a show yet...

    The star fish is most cool Tina and the story you told us of it over our quick lunch of yummy snitzel was too funny. I can see me running all over the room trying to find a tote mouse! LOL....

    Everyone have a great day and I will try to pop in here when I get a chance. Still so much to do to get my parents settled....

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  8. How awful to have had such a long drought. And you're trying to avoid watering, right? That'll be a challenge. Your fall colors are beautiful in any case.

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  9. Our color has been a bit off this year also but when I was going up to Dawn's daily I saw it change from nearly all green to bright colors. Western Maine is quite a bit ahead of us in color and I also think the west had brighter colors. At any rate, I do love the fall. All except for the sadness that comes with putting a garden to bed! Your colors look pretty bright to me.

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  10. Thanks for introducing me to nandina - those berries are just gorgeous - almost luminescent looking! We are lagging on the fall color - hopefully we'll see some change this week.

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  11. Some good stuff Tina! I've been thinking of doing my post soon - I just can't figure out the peak either. This summer has really confused the trees. I love the oak leaf hydrangea. One of my favorite all time trees for fall color is the ginkgo! Tennessee Tech had two that turned a bright gold in the fall just outside of the education building. One of these days I'll plant one!

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  12. I love those brilliant gold hickories... they seem to be able to withstand any amount of drought and no other tree quite has that deep shade of gold. They're very beautiful.

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  13. Hey Tina.
    I don't think you're crazy noticing different color during different falls. Last year, we had NO color due to an early, hard freeze. Everything turned brown and dropped off. It was pretty sad. This year we are having a much milder fall and it's so nice to see some color. This would be interesting to post about so you can look back and compare. Hope you get some rain soon.

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  14. Vibrant post and colors Tina. This Nadina shrub sounds and looks very interesting, you couldn't pop some dry berries in an envelope? I would you love to get hold of some seeds and try to grow them hear in my greenhouse. What do you say?

    Tyra

    Fragrant and Tasty in Tyra’s Garden

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  15. Wow you have some beautiful fall color in your yard already. The trees are just starting to think about changing here. :)

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  16. Hi Tina, what wonderful colours! I love your euonymous, but completely understand why you got fed up of dealing with the seedlings.

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  17. That was a fun project. Love your nandina. Mine is back inside--it will always have to be a houseplant for me. (Too cold.) (And it's small still.)

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  18. Sometimes I think fall color is even better than flower colors! But then I come to my senses. LOL Your fall foliage is gorgeous! I can't believe you've never seen a lighthouse, they are so common in Michigan. I search them out any time we travel near the sea.

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