The garden shed chatter is usually about the weather. Temperatures, rain, the forecast, these are things of great importance. Keeping that in mind, it seems that we've been cheated this fall. No reds, oranges, very little yellow and worse yet, dry and drier.
I just finished a lecture on color in the garden. There was a fine examination of the color wheel, primary colors, secondary colors, tints and shades. A 101 on color theory. A point I made was the lack of naturally occurring red colors in our climate. Tropical places have many red flowers, we have only a few. On one hand I can count all of the native perennials that flower red, most are summer blooming, brightly colored to draw hummingbirds.
If we truly desire red, it's best to wait for fall. Maples, tupelos, some oaks, and vines; namely Virginia creeper, make a great show. Our lack of color this year can be blamed on the lack of rain. Its arrival, and we need buckets, will probably be too little, too late.
Now as a happy gardener, and as a lot we usually are very happy, I have enjoyed the splendidly warm days. The gardens are dressing down and going to bed. There still lies some hope for a red show from the fall and winter berries. Deciduous hollies are full, some of the viburnums have a red glow to them, the sumacs berries look glorious. Colored red to attract birds, some berries will hang in there until spring.
A potentially bigger concern for the gardener is the continuing lack of rain. Spring flowering shrubs may be greatly affected as the buds have or are developing now. It's a time frame that will end with frozen ground and cool temperatures. The most critically affected will be broad leafed evergreens like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and pieris. I strongly suggest you soak the ground around these shrubs so they can build buds.
Deciduous trees and shrubs are holding onto their foliage because they are relying on the leaves to continue photosynthesizing. They are not willing to lose these if there is no rain. Another survival mechanism. Do not put the hose away yet, do not cut off the irrigation just yet.
I love your posts, Karen. This one is beautifully written and gives us all a lesson in nature ... thank you.
Posted by: Barbara Patton | 10/24/2017 at 01:13 PM
Barbara,
That is so sweet! I'm grateful for you and everyone else that checks in.
Posted by: Karen Rexrode | 10/24/2017 at 08:52 PM