The Upper Garden in Late September

Melianthus major, Salvia 'Indigo Spires', Amaranthus hypochondriacs, Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' doing their job well before frost hits.

Putnam Park in Late September

Sanguisorba officinalis, or burnet, is indispensable in the garden at Putnam Park. The red button-like flowers of this northern European native create a great textural addition and they contrast well with the asters and persicarias of autumn. The way they float in the breeze is magical.

View From the Living Room the Last day of Summer

Texture, Texture Read All About It

It is the textural elements of plants that I find most intriguing. When I am looking for plants at another garden or nursery, the foliage is very important. Grey, red/purples and chartreuse are often good colors to mix with other plants. Then I look for foliage that is thin vs thick, shiny vs flat or fuzzy, serrated vs smooth edged, round vs long. All the grass-like foliaged plants are particularly useful as are the round or paddle-like shaped leaves. When I put a composition together, I try to have a pleasing balance between contrast and harmony with both leaf color and leaf texture.

Peterborough Parks in Early September

The Pavilion Garden Entrance to Depot Park

Molinia litoralis ‘Windspiel’, Baptisa australis and Aster 'October Skies' at the Pavilion Garden 

The planter at Peter's Gate is planted with Scaevola 'Whirlwind Blue', Coleus 'Compact Red',  Jasminum 'Fiona Sunrise' and Phormium 'Pink Stripe'

The Boccelli Garden

The new Terrace at the Boccelli Garden

Our newest volunteer gardener, Blair

Blair, Laura and Molly taking a break at Nubanusit Terrace 

Monadnock Region Open Day August 23

Saturday, August 23, my garden will be one of the six gardens open to the public 10 am to 4pm for the Monadnock Region Garden Conservancy Open Days. Joe Valentine and Paula Hunter's garden, Juniper Hill Farm, will also be featuring a plant sale by Broken Arrow Nursery.  I am pleased to announce that my garden will host have a plant sale of unusual annuals and perennials by fellow blogger, Helen O'Donnell of Anemone Times. Helen has a new nursery at The Bunker Farm in Dummerston, Vermont which I posted about earlier this summer. She will be bringing a trick load of choice plants for sale.

There will also be a lecture and book signing by garden writer Tovah Martin at 7 pm at Bass Hall at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, 19 Grove Street, Peterborough - "Trowels & Tomorrow: Garden Stewardship." Admission: $5.

Installation Art at the Pavilion Garden

This price tag labeled "Garden. $54.99 Plants not included" was found on the hoop fence at the Pavilion Garden at Depot Park. It isn't such a great deal without the plants, is it?

Photos courtesy of Amy Jenkins