Ohio Gardens in December 2013 Fall Colors

Winter hit Ohio early this year with snow on the ground in October. Without any doubt, our weather continues to be strange in some manner each year. Thankfully it was a great gardening season this year and I can only hope for the same next year.

The beautiful Acer Palmatum Crimson Queen with some of the burgundy Mums around her and of course the little girl Yorkie statue peeking between.

The yard is always shockingly bare when all the perennials are cutback to go into the Winter season. The Japanese Maple Fireglow stands out with the Hydrangea Tardiva showing their lovely yellow Fall colors and I am so glad that I changed to all the flowering shrub to add the Winter interest for me.

The beautiful Ninebarks. Although these are burgundy year round, showing Diablo and Center Glows here, the color holding throughout the seasons, they intensify some in the Fall.

Hydrangea Limelight on left with Hydrangea QuickFire on right and the Cotinus Golden Spirit in the center. The Cotinus (Smoketree) is golden all season, but enhances with red into the Fall. Hopefully this backline of shrubs along with the others back here really takes off next year with growth.

The Picea Abies Reflexa along with the Viburnum Autumn Jazz, starting to show her Fall colors from behind.

Some more Ninebark Diablo's on the other side of the yard. I love these beauties. I do have some Spirea's in between there but moved them forward right before the photos and most of the leaves dried up on them. I found that the Ninebarks tend to be more weepers and because of that had to move forward some shrubs more than I originally had them.

The Hydrangea Pinky Winky on left and another Hydrangea Quickfire on right. Quickfire always has outstanding Fall color, more so then any other Hydrangea's that I have.

The beautiful Acer Griseum Paperbark Maple showing her outstanding Fall color. You don't get it long, around a few weeks but it's a nice bonus on top of the outstanding bark of this tree.

Not to forget some of the perennials. Hosta Brass Ring is one of the most outstanding to show the color change.

A beautiful Orchid a neighbor brought me down recently. Not the best situation here for inside plants but I'll enjoy it's lovely blooms for the time being. Of course you can see a couple of the other Yorkie collection items in this photo. Hope you all have some wonderful holidays.

Overview Ohio Fall Gardens Sept Oct 2013

Just breaking dawn with mostly rainy weather for picture taking. Has been a very different year compared to last, but much more appreciated with the additional rainfall. I only needed to water 3 times this year compared to last year where there may have been 3 days I didn't have to water.

Overview of the Japanese Maple Fireglow with surrounding Hosta and the Pinus s. Glauca Nana on standard. The beautiful Hydrangea blooms in the background on the other side of the path.

The bottom corner of the garden with the foliage still showing on the Iris, Daylily and Sedum. You can see the small Picea p. Glauca Globosa surrounded by Coreopsis and Heuchera.

Hydrangea Limelight off to the right of the corner along with a few others already mentioned.

The red Double Knockout Roses are still in bloom here. You can count on them no matter what.

On around to some of the Ninebark Diablo's and the lovely Hydrangea Pinky Winky and Hydrangea Quickfire along with the big Hosta garden. I added a few new shrubs to this area but they aren't real noticeable yet. Will be something new to look forward to next year.

The Caryopteris Blue Mist shrub is putting out lots of blooms now, with Sambucus Black Lace behind it.

Was outside one morning very early and Pagan ran over to the potty pad to potty and looked down and sniffed and when she moved I saw the little toad. Got my camera and got a shot. I think it's actually one of those tree toads. There were 2 under the patio, but the other one I took the photo was on concrete and it didn't come out very well.

Hydrangea Hosta Daylilies August Gardens

Hydrangea are blooming in the gardens. June always brings Quickfire blooming and July has the others blooming with TarDiva being the last to do so. To the right of them is a new shrub I just added, Fothergilla Mt Airy. I still have to add something to the right of that but nothing has struck me for it so we'll see what I do there. Still waiting for some of the Hosta to grow up here. A couple more years and this area should be just what I wanted.

Hydrangea Pinky Winky and Hydrangea Quickfire with Daylilies to each side, entering into the Hosta garden.

The pink Mums have been blooming since the first of July. The burgundy ones are blooming elsewhere in the yard. You can see Hydrangea TarDiva to the left here.

Hydrangea Limelight. Still one of the most spectacular Hydrangeas to own. The blooms are always spectacular and showy.

Hydrangea TarDiva is less showy than Limelight, yet I like it's more delicate blooms and is a little different than the bolder paniculatas.

Hydrangea Pinky Winky is one that I just adore since adding two to my gardens, the blooms are spectacular.

Hydrangea QuickFire I love for it's early blooming each year in June. The blooms quickly go from white to the pinkish shade and are delicate looking. I have 3 of these in the yard and they all look great this year.

Hydrangea Vanilla Strawberry has been in for several years now. I'm not happy at the slow amount of growth and lack of fullness. It really should have done better this year with the amount of rain we have gotten. I will watch it another year or so and see what it does.