This Is More Like It!

The Perovskia - Russian Sage - have begun to adorn themselves in stylish Winter White...

... making a lovely backdrop for the Sedum Autumn Joy, Ava Agastache, Desert Sunrise Agastache, Salvia Rose Queen and the remains of Lamb's Ear. I love to look out my bedroom window in the early morning and see the sun backlighting the filmy white branches.

The Hardy Pampas Grass rises above the Pyrocantha, which is loaded with berries this year.

One of the interesting things about gardening in Colorado is that each year brings something different to every season. Depending on weather, moisture, etc. some fall seasons have more color than others. This year the snow we had last week was too much moisture for the Sedum Autumn Joy and a lot of foliage broke or fell over. This will be the second year in a row that I most likely will not able to enjoy their beautiful winter texture. And, they are one of my favorite! And a lot of trees that had not yet begun to change color will now just be a dull brown instead.

This was the Honey Locust last fall. (Not so this year.) It was stunning, at least until the heavy snows came and stayed all winter. As a matter of fact, it was one year ago today (October 26) that the area experienced a blizzard which left anywhere between 1-2 feet of snow. We got a foot where we live. So.... I consider myself very fortunate this year. Monday had a high of 49 and a low of 21 (VERY COLD!) but the rest of the week was in the 70's and absolutely beautiful. I was able to do some more fall cleanup. Probably not so this weekend though. I've learned to take every opportunity I can to work outside.

October Blooms

The last rose of the year - Yellow Dream

And here is Voodoo's last blooms. I've never seen her get this tall! I think it was the new organic fertilizer that I used - "Peace of Mind."

I can't say that I have any "new" blooms for October, but there is still plenty of color to enjoy on a stroll through the gardens. Rudbeckia 'Cherokee' was a new plant this year and it is blooming like crazy right now. When the Autumn Joy Sedum was in it's pinkish stage I was sorry that I had planted them together. But now they go nicely as neighbors.

As I wander along the strips I see that my little 'Ava' Agastache (middle) is really trying hard to be as colorful and strong as it can. Last year is was huge, but at least it (barely) survived a difficult winter. I notice that most of the color is now gone from the Perovskias, Russian Sage. When the sun catches them in the early morning they have a filmy white edge. Seems like they look lovely in every stage.


I was quite surprised to see Salvia Rose Queen sprouting some healthy new blooms. I was thinking of leaving the dried stalks as winter interest, so I'm glad I had not gone ahead and cut them back. This was a nice treat.

Several little clumps of Feverfew have emerged this month. I truly love this flower. It adds such a delicate touch to the more commanding plants around it.

Here is a closer view of my 'Ava' Agastache - very late to the party, but at least she showed up. I originally planted four and now have only two.

The entry garden still looks colorful. I can always rely on Salvia 'Victoria Blue' to add a dramatic touch to this time of year.


A side view of one of the strips clearly shows that it is fall.

And lastly, it is this time of year that the annual Salvias (various reds) finally come into their own. They always hold out all year until just before it is time to snow. I love a touch of purple with them. I know... old ladies and stuff... but I have always loved this combination in just the right amounts. I'm a purple person for sure.

There are really quite a few blooms still hanging in or reblooming but these are the highlights. We've had one frost and today has been about 50, so tonight should offer another one. This has been a wonderful gardening year but I can't say I'm sorry that it is ending. Rather, I'm ready for some rest and to start dreaming for another season ahead.

Astonishing Agastache 'Ava'

I have received some comments asking about the 'Ava' Agastache that I featured with the sleeping bee. Since this is one of my VERY favorite plants (gosh, what isn't) I decided to do a post dedicated to it.


This is the third year for this plant. It is getting shadowed by a large Russian Sage next to it, which I keep cutting back so that 'Ava' can get more sun.


Two seasons ago I purchased four plants from High Country Gardens. The 'Ava' was their 2005 introduction and they are their specialty. I couldn't resist when I saw the photo in the catalog. The first year, of course, they pretty much slept, but the next year (last year) they were spectacular!! I was in love for sure. Last year, I'm afraid to say, they didn't do so well. Do you think it might have been the 1-2' snow drift that covered the area for weeks on end?? Huh? You think? It is highly unusual for snow to stay on the ground that long in this area. But then, it certainly was an unusual winter. I lost two of the plants. But I love them so much that I'm going to replace them next year.

'Ava' seems to be a bit temperamental, but as the catalog states, "This plant takes two to three growing seasons to reach mature size and will live for many years when happy." They go on to say what it is that makes them happy. Being buried under 2 feet of snow for weeks on end wasn't one of them. They are fairly expensive ($9.29 each for 5" deep pots). I think they are worth every cent. I really think they would continue to do well if not for so much snow. Also, some of the Russian Sage are invading their territory, so I need to do something about this. But I love the combination of the two. I am going to order some of their "Yum Yum Mix" winterizer fertilizer to help them out this year. I love these plants so much that I feel they are worth it.

This is 'Ava' in her second year (2006). She was spectacular. Unfortunately both she and the beautiful Rabbit Brush behind her succumbed to heavy snow drifts last year. I was very sad to seem them go. It was just one of those bad years.

Another view of 'Ava' in all her beauty before the winter storms. This plant remains lovely way into Fall if it can withstand the winter. (Two out of my original four survived).

And here she is in 2006 with Russian Sage (Perovskia) and Sedum 'Autumn Joy.'

This "vignette" from last year (2006) includes the Russian Sage, Agastach 'Ava,' Agastache 'Sunset Hyssop' and Sedum 'Autumn Joy,' together with other companion plants.

Principally Perovskia (Russian Sage)

When I designed my "hellstrips" I knew that the plant/bush that I wanted as the mainstay would be Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia). I planted about 20 of them. Not only do I love the beautiful blue/purple color, but they help take up a lot of space. To break up the long strips I planted what I call "vignettes" of Perovskia and several companion plants, broken by smaller plantings to allow access and add variety. I purchased them from many different nurseries and in many different sizes. In early Spring I cut them back to about 10-12" hoping that they will stay more compact. As you can see, they don't. They might possibly be a little too tall for use in hellstrips, but I find them to be very dramatic, especially when driving down the street. Believe me, you want to have plenty of room for most of these beauties.

If you are interested in learning more about this gorgeous bush High Country Gardens has some information about growing and purchasing them in most of their catalogs. Their 2007 Fall Edition states they are "one of the most common plants in new western xeriscapes..." They show suggestions for companion plants as well.

Perovskias can add a beautiful look to the winter landscape. The branches turn a soft, textural and "filmy" white. Before the first heavy snow I trim back some of the longer branches on the bottom and try to cut back on the weight they must hold. This helps quite a bit. But sometimes if the snow is early it will take them to their knees. These bushes I trim back quite a bit so that they are not too stressed.

I am in my second year of an experiment (holding my breath every time) to see if trimming the plants back before they set flowers will help make them stronger and better able to withstand storms. See what you think. I think it may be worth it.

Here are the plants that are the "control" in my experiment. They were not trimmed back. The flowers are "fluffier" and they may be a deeper blue, but you can see what happens when we get a lot of moisture. The Perovskia in the first photo does get some shade, but the second one is in full sun all of the time.

The following photos show the Perovskia's that I trimmed back just before they began to bud. You can see that they look "thinner," but seem to be standing more upright. And they are not flopping as much. There are a couple of different forms of the plant here and I'm sorry that I do not have the information at hand as to which they are. I will go back to when I planted them and see if I can post that. There are forms (High Country lists them) that stand up better.

I wish I had more room to truly show off these beautiful shrubs. I would love to see them on a dry hillside with other rugged companions to do them justice. However, we garden with what we have and not what we would like to have. Right? So, I enjoy them where they are and get many compliments from people passing by. My favorite thing to do is to stroll along them in the early morning when the sun is back lighting them, and seeing all the little bees still asleep in their blossoms.

I Bee Sleeping

Russian Sage Perovskia, was full of sleeping bees this morning, and will be a "hive" of activity the rest of the day. Bees love these plants.

Agastache (Ava's Hummingbird Mint) provides lots of good sleeping places. Even the brightness of this Hollyhock could not wake up this one.