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Thursday 28 August 2008

Time for Purple Fountain Grass !




Well it is that time of year again .. heathers, asters, mums, and purple fountain grass are pulling me in with their magnetism .. Autumn magnetism specifically .. anything to do with this coming time of the year and the big one HALLOWEEN ! .. so my posts will be rather single minded .. or simple minded ?
I found a nice big, healthy, fresh plant .. no feather heads yet .. but that is the best to come, since I'm not ready to change my front step display anyways .. so lots of time yet .. I can't understand the people who are buying pots of mums right now .. they will be bloomed out by the time you want them to shine ! .. Are there people worse than I am about pushing the best of all seasons to come ? .. It boggles the imagination .. maybe they don't think there will be any mums left at a certain point ? .. where were they living last year that they didn't notice a glut of pots on the market for the longest time almost every year ! So I'm not nervous .. I started out with my YOUNG grass .. who has time to age ! ..
I'm tempted by heathers every year though .. 4 years I tried .. 4 years I have failed ... even with the sage advice from my friend in the UK on what heathers WANT .. I think it is one of my black listed plants unknown to me ? .. maybe I can try just one more time ?

10 comments:

Jane O' said...

I am big fan of asters. I wish I could see them blooming all year!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Jane Marie ... there are some remarkable colours for asters .. that electric blue is amazing !

WiseAcre said...

Mums the word. But if you don't buy them now around here they will soon be gone. But the big surprise was how many survived last year's winter. A deep snow cover without the really really cold temps did the trick. It's hard to believe how huge some of the survivors have grown. (when my new camera arrives I'll get a few pics)

Before the old camera passed away I did manage some nice shots of a wildflower aster - Flat Topped White Aster. Maybe I'll post that next :) They're not purple but wildflower hunters will shoot anything.

I never tried growing heathers. They need some protection from the winter cold. More so early in the cold season before the 'wood' has a chance to 'set'. (Pine needle mulch is recommended) and they like acidic soil. I've also read where where winter watering is needed to keep the soil moist.

Katarina said...

Try heathers again - you're bound to succeed next time! : )
/Katarina

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Katarina .. I have to say I am very tempted .. being a Libra it takes me forever to make up my mind though ! haha

Dear Mr. WiseA** .. I think you may be right about the mums .. I will buy them for sure next week .. Costco has huge pots with gorgeous colours to choose from .. so that is my mission !
I have had my garden mums survive every year .. have I been unnaturally lucky ? is there such a statement ? LOL
The heathers .. I think that is the key .. enough moisture .. I use cedar mulch on everything to protect my babies .. I know it adds some acidity to the soil as well .. but the moisture is the key I think to my failure .. dry winters .. so .. I have to think about this all very seriously .. hope I don't get a headache ! ; )
I admire white flowers .. something about their purity and innocence ? LOL .. but I bet that aster is an eye popper ! Post please !

Anonymous said...

My PFG is coming to an end as it will die as the weather gets cold. I could cut it back and overwinter. I do love it! Yay--for Autumn!!

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

I am laughing about the mums. That is true they are everywhere up till Thanks Giving time. About the grass though. I tried this grass. It grew so beautifully all summer and never came back the following year. I have no idea why. I thought it froze?

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Cindee .. I think this grass is in a zone 9 which is pretty high .. so we all treat it as an annual .. but I love it for an Autumn display on the front step .. I love that purple millet plant too .. heck ! I love anything related to Fall ! haha

Anna .. I bet you could over winter it in a garage or shelter .. but yes ! Autumn .. come on down ! haha

WiseAcre said...

Well I slaved over a hot keyboard to bring you purity but I couldn't help but touch them so I don't know how innocent they are now.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Dear Mr. WiseA** .. You just had to go ahead and touch them ??LOL .. Hey, I would have too .. it brings the "child" in us out .. Actually I think that makes us good gardners too .. curiosity, and a drive to experience as much as possible with plants .. hum ? deep thinking right ? wink wink