94 I See Red

I See Red

I see red. And it ain’t Santa!

My goodness Fall Colors are lasting a long time this year. I hope you see red in your landscape to enjoy while in your yard or looking out your windows.

When choosing plants for your landscape, think of the changing seasons—deciduous vs evergreen—and of foliage colors other than green.

I know…when you’re at a nursery among all the tempting plants, it’s a lot to think about. But a little impulse control (yeah, right!) goes a long way. Imagine having chosen this tree for your yard some years ago…

Zelkova serrata ‘Wireless’

In 2014, my mom donated that Zelkova to the Sherwood Demonstration Garden’s Perennial Garden. It was in a 15-gallon container and stood 6-feet tall back then. Now it’s at full maturity and stands 15-feet tall and wide.

I blogged recently about a Chinese Pistache that I added lights to. Look at it now…

So beautiful in it’s fall glory!

In my post #27, I mentioned that I removed a St. John’s Wort that had been in the landscape since 1995 when we bought our place. I took it out because it was just time for it to go. But I sat on that empty spot for half a year trying to decide what to plant there.

Around that time, I was installing a lot of Palo Verdes in clients’ yards because they are drought tolerant (I do my part!) and they have an airy, wispy look that I love. Well I thought to try one at my place and put it in that empty spot—even knowing that I may be too cold.

Yep. Too cold. Dead in 3 months.

Crap! I needed to get something in there to provide shade for the Japanese Forest Grass because its tips were frying from the hot summer days. But what?

If I weren’t so damn picky, it wouldn’t have been such a dilemma. But I am. And it was.

One day I was perusing the aisles at a local plant place, El Dorado Nursery (blog post coming soon). I came upon an Acer which are known for their delicate green leaves that turn fiery red, orange and golden yellow in autumn. I used to have one back 20 years ago—aka my stupid years. It died because I had it in a pot in a bad location.

Looking at that Acer now, I decided to try again. It seemed it might fit that spot well. And so far, it does. I am happy that it is happy and—as you can see—very alive…

Acer palmatum ‘Seiryu’ (Lace Leaf Japanese Maple)

Here’s another Acer variety I bought for just $10…

Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’

It was literally a twig when I bought it. And…well…it’s still somewhat a twig. But I am nothing but patient when buying a small plant “on the cheap” and letting it grow.

When I planted this Lilla, I put her in part sun…

Cotinus coggygria ‘Lilla’ (Lilla Smoke Bush)

She should really be in full sun to maintain her burgundy colors throughout the growing season. But I insisted she go where I have her.

In spring, before the Honey Locust leaves appear, Lilla comes out in her lovely burgundy. Then in summer when the Locust leaves come on and give her some shade, she fades to green. Then in fall when the Locust leaves have dropped, she’s back to burgundy, then a deep beautiful red.

I have a feeling she is mad at me for causing her to change colors like that. But I love dynamic colors in the garden. This is the sort of thing I meant you should think about when shopping for your landscape.

When it comes to pots, you’ve heard me say, “Go big or go home.” But I’ve had this Boston Ivy (famous for fall color) in a small pot for over 16 years…

Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Boston Ivy)

In this case, small is good. Cramped quarters have stunted the ivy’s growth so it can’t run amuck. To keep a plant (and your workload) under control is the only time I would suggest you “buy small.”

Is this not absolutely gorgeous?!…

Azalea Exbury Hybrid ‘Cannon’s Double’

I never knew an Azalea had fall colors. This one came from East Bay Nursery. It took me only 7 months to finally find a spot for it! Gawd that’s exhausting.

In this next photo can you guess why I installed this particular grouping of plants?…

This is me using the beautiful fall colors of Maples, an Oak Leaf Hydrangea and a Flaming Bush to distract the eye from an unsightly cheap plastic shed!

If you’re late to this party, I have more fall color in my landscape that I shared way back in December 2020. I could probably regurgitate used photos in my new posts, and you wouldn’t notice (unless you are one of those people with a memory!). But to stay true to myself and to you, I don’t do that.

Though I do like to revisit my past blog posts—which I must say include some very clever ones. To me they are worth another look.

The cycle of seasons brings obvious short-term change to nature. But long-term change in a landscape happens much more slowly. Old photos make those changes obvious enough to learn from. This plant, that plant, good choice, stupid choice.

You may not have your own blog to look back on, but Readers, do keep a gardening record in pictures and written thoughts. That way, when you’re among all those plants in a nursery, you can bring a broader view (aka, less stupidity) to the ones you choose.

And I say, “Choose to SEE RED!”