Some of my favorites for fall planting

Bulbs, of course, are a natural for fall planting.

Every garden needs Allium - and lots of them! Related to the onion, the common name for Allium is Ornamental Onion. Most will naturalize (reproduce) if they're happy in the garden. Generally they bloom May/June in my Portland garden, although the drumstick Allium doesn't start performing until late June/July. Alliums coordinate especially well with hybrid tulips which have a similar bloom time.

Some of my favorites:

• Allium 'Globemaster' - Can you say 'drama' ... this one never fails to generate comments in my garden. The round, purple flower heads often exceed 9" in diamater and can reach a height of 4' or more. Globemaster is one of the more costly (each bulb can cost $8, sometimes more) so I recommend getting as many as you can afford, then supplement with other less costly Alliums, such as 'Purple Sensation' or Allium cristophii.
• Allium 'Purple Sensation' - Smaller in stature than 'Globemaster'; these can be used more generously without overwhelming the garden scene, or your pocketbook!
• Allium sphaerocephalum (Drumstick Allium) - This one naturalizes much more readily than the others. Blooming in July, the tightly arranged bud emerges green and matures to a deep crimson red. Each egg-shaped "drumstick" is about 1 1/2 in diameter, swinging and swaying at about 36" on narrow stems.

Feels like fall ...

... and while we have been blessed with a number of clear, brisk days I can't help feeling the urge to cozy-up and hunker down for the winter. Trouble is I've got lots of fall chores that remain to be completed. Among them; planting bulbs and deciding how to integrate my accumulated plant treasures into the garden. Although one of the most pressing tasks that I have in queue is completing the planning process for the remodeling project we have planned for this winter. We are hoping to reclaim our existing dilapidated garage as living/office space by undertaking a pretty major remodel of the existing structure. This would (naturally!) lead to a pretty major remodel of the back garden as well, which I am very stimulated by. The project requires going through a permit process .... need to get started on that process so we can get this show on the road!

A Shot of Fall Color

BloomTown in Fall
© 2005 Darcy Daniels

This photo of the parking strip garden was taken from the front sidewalk. Figuring prominently - Molinia c. 'Variegata', Melianthus major, Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Pennisetum s. 'Rubrum'.