"O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away."
- Robert Frost, October
Left to right , stalwarts in my October garden : Autumn Sage, Japanese roof iris, Hardy mums, euphorbia.
After a long hot dry summer the cooler days of October are most welcome. Rainfall has been scarce so my watering tasks have increased.
In pursuit of my strategy to have a living mulch I continued to purchase new perennials to add to the garden. I especially love the various shades of euphorbia -the 'ascot rainbow ' and 'merlot ' colors are my favorites. I've also planted several varieties of hyssop or "hummingbird mint " which has really done well as have the coneflowers which I have in every color. An outstanding perennial, "wood's blue aster " has been in continuous bloom since early summer. I continue to love and plant Dianthus which is sold as an annual but acts like a perennial here in this mild climate.
I have failed, for the third time, to grow a gardenia, despite having tried 3 different varieties, 3 different locations and suggested soil preparations. I have given up. The same with Rhododendrons. I just tossed out my third failure and planted an azalea instead.
The days grow shorter and there is definitely a hushed October feeling in the Sweet garden.
