Friday, October 24, 2008

Meet. . . Aster ‘Lady in Black’

I’ll admit it; this plant is no longer in bloom now, it was in its’ prime earlier this month. But if you’re still doing some garden planting now, you might want to consider this little beauty.
Aster lateriflorus ‘Lady in Black’ has a lovely, vase shaped form and fine foliage that is purple with green and burgundy undertones. As you can see, the tiny white daisy-like flowers that cover the plant surprise with big raspberry- pink centers. I have mine planted near the edge of the lawn, where it can get plenty of moisture. In rich soil I have seen these get 3-4 feet tall, although my own specimen is pretty puny!

All summer long I look forward to seeing this in bloom. So if you need to add some fine foliage and/or late summer flowers to your garden, ‘Lady in Black’ might be the perfect plant.


Monday, October 20, 2008

Jack-in-the-Pot


Although I did some serious garden chores this weekend-- like watering my trees and cleaning out my gutters---I made time for some fun, too. Once I'd emptied the fountain pot in my front entry garden I created this scarecrow/jack-o-lantern. The "pumpkin" head has a small, electic bulb inside; a safer alternative for the spooky days ahead!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Calendar Says…


We’re almost a full month into autumn now, but my potted summer annuals and tropicals are still going strong. Although we’ve had several nights of hard frost lately, even my impatiens---which usually melt into a disgusting mess with just a cold stare---are still going strong.

This view from my patio chair shows that we still have a ways to go before it truly looks like fall. And that’s very OK with me!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Cha- cha- cha- cha… Changes!


I’ve instituted a few changes to The Art Garden today that I hope you’ll take a few minutes to explore:

I’ve added a Lecture Schedule that lists the dates and topics of my upcoming speaking gigs. Many of them are in association with my new book, Plant Smart! Six Steps to Choosing Perfect Plants, which will be arriving in early 2009. (In fact, I’ve just spent the past week pouring over my editor’s proof. Now it’s off to the art department. Yippee!) I enjoy speaking to both consumers and trade professionals alike; please contact me at jhcstudios@yahoo.com if you would like more information about a variety of landscape/garden lecture topics for your garden group, staff or clients.

You will also see a change-up in my blog list. I’ve dropped a few blogs that are not active, and added a few new ones; including the infamous Garden Rant (Maddening? Yes. Thought provoking? Yes. Worth your time? Maybe!).

Thanks for visiting today!
Photo: Maximillian sunflower, Helianthus maximiliana, blooming in my garden today.