Steadily Enduring with Grace

We’ve been truly in the middle of hoa-hoa season this last week – a fresh blanket of fallen leaves contrast sharply against sullen, sunless skies, quilting frost-tipped fescue lawns much to the chagrin of their owners (this is a good time to tell you to LEAVE THE LEAVES!!!!). Slowly, leaves begin surrendering their cheerful autumnal tones for shades of mahogany, chestnut and espresso, decaying into fresh soil nutrients for the coming year. To the unknowing, November is seemingly the cusp of grey, colorless winter.

Truth be told, there’s more to be seen during these chilly, blustery months than we may initially recognize. Birds can be seen flitting about treetops and branches, formerly invisible amongst the lush summer foliage. Chipmunks skitter from shrub to shrub, gleaning whatever seeds and fruits they can find in their travels. November begins to open nature’s windows, allowing us to peak in and admire the inner workings that so often get lost amongst the summer shuffle. Despite the inward spiral that many of our Mid-Atlantic plants are undergoing, there are still signs of life happening in the plant world. From late-blooming perennials to shrubs promising winter interest and semi-evergreen trees, there’s no shortage of plant selections capable of jazzing up the late season landscape.

This week let’s take a look at some of the workhorses of pre-winter.

Just to prove a point, all photos included here this week were taken this Thursday, post-Arctic chill, wind, rain, and light frosts.

Aster laevis ‘Bluebird’ | smooth aster

Perfect for: naturalized areas, pollinator gardens, clay and occasionally drought-prone soils

Solidago shortii ‘Solar Cascade’ | Short’s goldenrod

Perfect for: specimen collection (federally classified as Endangered), pollinator gardens, cut flower gardens, drought prone & deer prone sites

Achillea ‘Moonshine’ | yarrow

Perfect for: waterwise gardens, drought-prone and poor soils, xeriscaping, pollinator gardens

Hamamelis virginiana ‘Harvest Moon’ | witchhazel

Perfect for: shady woodland gardens, understory plantings, winter gardens, deciduous hedge, specimen gardens

Antirrhinum hispanicum ‘Roseum’ | mounding Spanish snapdragon

Perfect for: waterwise gardens, xeriscaping, rock gardens & slopes, dry and drought prone soils. Particularly resistant to summer heat and humidity.

Achillea millefolium NEW VINTAGE™ Violet | yarrow

Perfect for: waterwise gardens, drought-prone and poor soils, xeriscaping, pollinator gardens, medicinal gardens

Rosa rugosa | rugosa rose

Perfect for: coastal plantings and seashore gardens, sites prone to salt spray, sandy and drought-prone soils

Aster cordifolius ‘Avondale’ | blue wood aster

Perfect for: part shade woodland gardens, pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, clay-based and dry soil conditions, naturalized plantings