Author Archives: talesofanashvillegardener

Above are the pink New England aster “Colonial Boston” and the white New England aster “Colonial Providence”.

I found this unnamed heuchera at the garden center down the road and brought it home. It has all the apple and maple leaf colors of autumn. It glows from within. And then, on Etsy, I found Amsonia “Butterscotch”, which flowers powder blue in spring and turns to precious amber in autumn. Every morning now,Continue reading “Colors of Autumn”

This is Caryopteris divartica “Blue Butterflies”, another Japanese edge of the woodland perennial blooming now in my New Boston garden. This plant can become very large, and becomes a die back shrub in our winters, coming back from the roots in spring. It can take half sun. It is also a determined seeder, and littleContinue reading “Ethereal Flowers”

And the asters and aconitums have yet to bloom!

New England aster “Violetta” . Hybridized in Europe. This came from Digging Dog Nursery in California, ordered on line. This nursery has choice asters, persicarias, ornamental grasses and aconitums. “Torch” tithonia, the Mexican sunflower. Easily raised from seed planted in June. A fast growing annual. Easy for anyone. The white spires are Persicaria “Alba”. AboveContinue reading “Blooming Today”

Gardens don’t need to be abandoned after August. Here is proof in these late flowering borders. Above- “Candles” canna, zinnias, and “Miss Huff” lantana. The native New Hampshire Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), shown below- Canna “Pretoria” above, and the Late border in front of the old red schoolhouse below. The grass in the foreground isContinue reading “At the Goffstown Historical Society Gardens- September 8, 2022”

Two of the last three summers have been severe droughts. The spring here dried up, and we have to depend on a well. I have tried to conserve water by watering sparingly this summer, and have been dismayed by the wilting and drooping. A Boltonia “Snowbank” I bought in June has withered on the weeklyContinue reading “A Wonderful Sunless Few Days”

Four O’Clocks open in the afternoon and close in midmorning. Hence their common name. This plant was raised from seed. In my southern garden it was hardy, but here it dies with the frost unless I overwinter it as a dried tuber. This flower is my favorite shade of pastel orange and is in theContinue reading ““Salmon Sunset” Four O’clock”

/ Conoclinium coelestinum, or the Blue Mistflower, comes into bloom as the sun rises later and the mornings grow cooler. It is not native to New England, but it thrives in my garden and makes a sizable colony in only a few seasons. It does have Imperial ambitions, and left unchecked will spread and spread.Continue reading “Harbinger of Autumn”