Steve Says Goodbye to Summer in Atlanta

A gardener captures the bold foliage, flowers, and berries that signal the end of summer and start of fall

Hi GPODers !

For those unfamiliar , a few multiplication this class I did “ GPOD Vignettes . ” These were compilation - style post that boast a handful of curt submissions ( only a photo or two ) . Back in June , in the very first GPOD Vignette ( determine it out here ) , I have a outstanding ‘ Lemon Zest ’ hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla‘Lemon Zest ’ , Zones 4–7 ) submit by an anonymous contributor . A few weeks ago , I was thrilled to get another email from that anonymous contributor . Steve Schmidt in Atlanta , Georgia not only revealed his personal identity , but also apportion many more pic from his sensory garden .

My name is Steve Schmidt in Atlanta . I am the “ mystery submitter ” who station the hydrangea “ Lemon Zest ” photo last June . I ’m retire and trying to get a handle on gardening in these changing times – climate alteration and trying to be more ’ native ’ . My backyard is roughly a quarter of an acre which is the floodplain for a stream which borders the back of the lot . The abidance sits atop a very steep gradient – 27 steps from the flood plain to the subbasement level – hence 2 more stories of top to get to the street level . The front of the residence face to the south – live with dry clay . lot of tint in front , however , on residence side of the public sidewalk . ( Power lines forbid anything unfeignedly shady between the pavement and street in the verge . ) The back is pretty much all backbreaking tone ( tall trees in flood plain and on the hillside above ) except for a triangle - shaped area at the NE corner . When get the back was full of kudzu , privet , common ivy , and cherry laurel .

I ’ve pretty well domesticise the non - native invasives in back ( except for common ivy on the exorbitant side and the kudzu which can pussyfoot over the stream ) . I ’ve come around to digest on autumn to spring interest ( accumulating berry plant for autumn , native azalea for outflow , yet to flesh out mid - winter ideas ) as summer with the humidness , gnats and mosquito can be a challenge to doing much body of work despite the nuance supply relief from the hot sun ! ab initio I was plant what I liked , but have get along around to planting native plants that I care ( with some non - natives interspersed ) and doing more research – plant habits vary wide look on conditions . Paths in back are mostly laid out and set . My centering currently is on found shrubs to make corridors and ‘ room . ’ In front of the residence my current approaching is to have destiny of colour , almost all in deal , from spring to fall for all the folks who take the air by .

So , as summer disappearance , the last couple of month are bearing fruit in backyard for the hiss : Winterberries ‘ Winter Gold ’ & ‘ Winter Red’(Ilexverticillata‘Winter Gold ’ and ‘ Winter Red ’ , zone 3–9).Five other Charles Edward Berry - producing shrubs are in back as well , only one mature enough to have bring forth berries this year .

Strawberry bush(Euonymusamericanus , zone 6–9),which appeared on its own . I ’ll rent most things grow that appear on their own so that I can name before decide to keep or remove .

I noticed this year for the first clock time the peak on the ‘ Shoal Creek ’ chaste tree(Vitexagnus - castus‘Shoal Creek ’ , zone 6–9)left seeds – apparently appreciated by cardinals .

Turning to the front G : I’ve almost complete transition most of the tropicals I brought up from south Florida to go inside . Also , as we dip into the thirty I ’ve take in cuttings from the annual I bid to grow again . The surveil pictures are from the front in the last few workweek as annuals have reach their maximal growth for this year .

In the front pot are a ‘ male monarch of Siam ’ croton(Codiaeum variegatum‘King of Siam ’ , Zones 10–11),‘Kingswood Torch ’ coleus(Solenostemon‘Kingswood Torch ’ , Zones 10–11),heuchera(from a protagonist who moved – crimson veins wash out in light of sun ) , East Indian holly fern(Arachniodes simplicior‘Variegata ’ , Zones 6–9)and creeping Jenny(Vitexagnus - castus‘Shoal Creek ’ , Zones 6–9 ) .

The pot behind the introduce has a begonia ( also from champion who moved),‘El Brighto ’ coleus(Coleus scutellarioides‘El Brighto ’ , Zones 10–11),‘Mrs Iceton ’ croton(Codiaeum variegatum‘Mrs Iceton ’ , Zones 10–11 ) & ‘ Citronelle’heuchera(Heuchera‘Citronelle ’ , Zones 4–8).The genus Heuchera and coleus being in full spectre all summer are n’t as bright or colourful as they can be . little pots with cutting & rooting from existing plant are at the Qaeda – future plant life for planting in the backyard . The plant with the larger leaves behind the pot is a Colombian petunia(Suessenguthia multisetosa , Zones 9–11)which was lend up from Florida along with the crotons . It must be winter inside which I think soak it of the timing it needs to flower .

The entry sidewalk is trace on both slope by pots , the east side being more colorful than the west side ( which has three blueberry shrub temporarily awaiting preparation of their topographic point in back ) . Five coleuses are in the next photo : for sure ‘ El Brighto ’ & ‘ Kingswood Torch ; ’ the other 3 have been propagated year - to - class = perhaps ‘ Vino ’ ( drear one ) , ‘ Kong Red ’ & ‘ Flame Thrower Chili Pepper . ’ A ‘ Mamey ’ croton bury in the ‘ Kong ’ coleus . ‘ Gartenmeister ’ fuchsia(Fuchsia‘Gartenmeister ’ , Zones 9–11)to the side . In the front kitty is a Florida Sunshine anise(Illiciumparviflorum ‘ Florida Sunshine ’ , Zones 6–9)rooting awaiting a serious sizing to go into the ground somewhere !

In the driveway – too steep so no vehicle ! – are course of pots to act as a silver screen for the basement level . Here anoakleaf hydrangea(Hydrangea quercifolia , Zones 5–9)is exchange colors . Also in pots are a burgundyviburnumand ‘ Popcorn ’ viburnum(Viburnum plicatumf.plicatum‘Popcorn ’ , Zones 5–9).Rounding out the top row is a powderpuff(Calliandra haematocephala , Zones 9–11 ) – brought up from Florida . In front areeuphorbia , salviaand coleus .

Also sweep the private road are a mint of seagrapes(Coccoloba uvifera , Zones 9–11)(from FL ) , double impatient , coleus ‘ Kingswood Torch , ’ variegated genus Schefflera , flame nettle ‘ Flamethrower Chili Pepper ’ and a croton the name of which I ca n’t find ( perhaps ‘ Golden Bell ’ ) .

I really enjoy the critters in the railway yard . The Carolina anoles stay in front where there ’s sun . Due to shade , moisture , and plenty of diminish true there are tidy sum of salamanders . Of of course , the usual assortment of bird , small mammals , snakes , etc .

Cloudless sulphur butterfly on a puff bloom .

Gulf Fritillary butterfly stroke onriver oat grass(Chasmanthium latifolium , Zones 5–9 ) .

Thank you so much for sharing this farewell to summer , Steve ! It was so great to take more about you and your beautiful garden . I hope we get to see more updates in the succeeding 🙂

And a reminder to everyone that you may start anywhere when submitting to Garden Photo of the Day . Though the direction below say to submit 5 - 10 photos , I will certainly except less and keep them on file until I have enough to compile another GPOD Vignette . Whether you have one photo to share or 20 , please consider sending them over to[email protected]and your garden can be featured on the web log this winter .

Have pic to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a special compendium of plants you sleep together , or a wonderful garden you had the prospect to visit !

To submit , send 5 - 10 picture to[email protected]along with some info about the plants in the scene and where you take the exposure . We ’d sleep with to try where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , successes you are proud of , failures you learned from , hopes for the time to come , favorite plants , or funny account from your garden .

Have a nomadic phone ? Tag your photograph onFacebook , InstagramorTwitterwith # FineGardening !

colorful foliage with bright red flowers

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