October in the Garden - Trisha's Meanderings
Will it… won’t it? Cold-climate gardening means growing gorgeous peonies, lilacs, snowberries and so many other fabulous plants but who doesn’t swoon over wisteria in bloom? And that’s the catch. Will there be a frost or not? Will the blooms last even a day or two, or will the frosts quite literally nip them in the bud?
The one consolation of a no-show spring wisteria is that they often flower intermittently all through summer. It may not be the great spring display when they bloom without foliage, but the scent is still divine and the flowers every bit as beautiful.
The Quiet Beauty of Elms
And then there is the elm blossom. How few people ever talk about its beauty. It’s not showy like the crabapples, but the lime-green, almost translucent blooms are exquisite, and the lightest breeze will send them fluttering to the ground, forming a soft, hazy carpet of petals. Flowering at the same time as the bluebells, I am always amazed how the garden can shift so quickly from the golden glow of September to the blue, green and white hues of October.
Lilacs, Always
Lilacs are often underrated, yet they remain one of my greatest loves. If you’ve ever walked past a lilac in bloom, you’ll know it’s impossible not to bury your nose in its petals the fragrance is so strong and alluring. They’re also wonderfully drought hardy and tough as boots when it comes to frost, snow, hail, or dry and wet spells alike.
And they sucker! Which means you can have an instant lilac walk. Simply dig up the suckers and plant them either side of a path. Within a year or two, you’ll have your very own fragrant, romantic lilac walkway.
Thankfully, the fad for all-white gardens seems to have passed, because lilacs in mauve and deep purple are so spectacular. The common (vulgaris) lilac and wisteria, in my mind, are infinitely more sumptuous than their paler cousins.
Peonies and Snow Pears
Tree peonies are always the first to flower, and they are truly spectacular. I scatter wood ash and cow manure around the roots, mulch well, and without any water beyond what falls from the sky, they never fail to produce magnificent blooms.
It’s hard to have a single favourite, but among trees, the snow pear (Pyrus nivalis) is right at the top of my list. Its delicate white blossom on bare branches, its graceful canopy, and its fast-growing, hardy nature make it a joy to grow. The small grey-green leaves colour superbly in autumn, and the tree blends beautifully with eucalypts, its foliage quiet and complementary.
A Magical Time
The snowball bush, swathes of iris, crabapple blossom, the first poppies October is a magical time in the garden, especially after a long, hard, freezing winter.
Trisha xx
