can't-miss fall flowers

Now's a great time to garden. The weather is fine, and eager bloomers are springing into action.

Phoebe Blackston knows flowers, and her abundant autumn garden reflects it.

I first met Mrs. Blackston when I was 4 or 5 years old. She was the mother of my two best friends, Ray and Ted. We lived on the same street in Mobile, Alabama. Even in my youth, I appreciated Phoebe's gift for gardening. She grew beautiful tulips, and all the neighbors would gather to admire them.

The Blackstons and my family moved away from Mobile, but we stayed in touch. I recently visited them at their Greenville, South Carolina, home. As I pulled in the driveway, it was evident that Phoebe was still gardening. She and her husband, Charles, greeted me with big smiles and hugs and gave me a grand tour of the yard. The border on the side of the house overflowed with bright flowers and glowing foliage, creating an impressive show.

It Takes Teamwork

The couple enjoys spending time together in the garden. They blend their talents while nurturing the plant-filled yard. Charles specializes in grass cutting, irrigation-system repair, and tree and shrub planting. Phoebe takes care of the annuals and perennials. She also enjoys buying plants, always looking out for bargains or new and unusual specimens. "When Phoebe goes shopping, there's no telling what she'll get," says Charles. "Each time she returns, her trunk is full."

Sharing the Garden

"Charles and I encourage the grandchildren to explore the yard," says Phoebe. Using magnifying glasses, the kids inspect flowers; foliage; and creepy, crawly insects that roam about. They carefully capture and study them and then promptly set them free. The youngsters' favorite activity is climbing the Southern magnolia, which acts as a living jungle gym.

Foliage Filler

Colorful, leafy textures fill in around gorgeous blooming plants. Ornamental grasses, such as silver grass (Miscanthus sp.) and fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.), provide tall, ribbonlike, arching foliage. Coleus is one of Phoebe's favorite foliage plants. It adds splashes of brightness to the landscape from spring through frost.

A Work in Progress

To be out in the yard among the flowers is all Phoebe wants, and each day spent in the garden is a gift. For years, Phoebe noticed a lady strolling past her house on daily walks. One day, the woman stopped and said, "I've been watching you working on your garden for a long time. Do you think this year you might finish?" Phoebe quickly replied, "I sure hope not."

PHOEBE'S FAVORITES

* Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is an imposing perennial that grows 6 to 12 feet tall. It has hundreds of 2- to 3-inch, yellow, daisy-like blooms with brown eyes.

* Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) produces velvety, purple-and-white spikes and grows 31/2 to 4 feet tall and wide. It begins to flower in September and continues till frost.

* Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) has wonderful golden spires that rise 3 to 7 feet in the middle and back of the border. This native perennial has gotten a bum rap for causing hay fever. It doesn't and should be used more often in the landscape.

* Asters also play an important role in the fall border. Phoebe likes 'Jindai' Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus 'Jindai'). It grows about 6 feet tall, has large tobacco-like leaves, and is topped with clusters of small blue flowers.

* Other great bloomers for fall include Japanese anemone (Anemone hybrida), 'Autumn Joy' sedum (Sedum 'Autumn Joy'), Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis), and dahlia (Dahlia sp.).

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Sep 2005
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