6 on Saturday – 27SEP2025 – So, This Is Autumn

Chris Mousseau

It would be disingenuous for me to claim that a dry late summer has made the garden (and, by extension, me) miserable when, in fact, it’s looking and perhaps feeling quite content. There’s been enough rain to fill the rain barrels which has allowed me to water the raised beds and containers and new trees and Zinnias, and also wet the surface of the soil, which seems to have kept everything else alive. And although I doubt it will be a spectacular year for fall colours, leaves have started to do their thing, leading to some really lovely colours. I’m joining Jim at Garden Ruminations today with six things in my late September yarden, starting with my perennial Chrysanthemum. I gave it a good chop in late June and the subsequent drought kept the stalks much shorter than usual leading to this lovely (and slug-free) white area carpet:

Most of the tall goldenrod – mainly Solidago canadensis I think – has gone to seed here (cue a lot of deadheading in garden areas…) but one that I started from seed on February 2 (in a pot, then left outside to stratify, germinate and grow a bit before planting in the garden) is called Stout Goldenrod – Solidago squarrosa. Its leaves and flowers are different, and it’s just now flowering. Only a few dozen centimeters high this year, it’ll likely grow much taller and bushier in years to come.

I think this is stout goldenrod…I also planted zigzag goldenrod and the writing on the tags has of course faded away…is it zigging and zagging do you think?

In full bloom now are the fall asters, including New England Aster – Symphyotrichum novae-angliae. Much loved by bumble bees:

Here’s a corner of the garden with typical autumn colours – white and purple asters, blanket flower, plus a few remaining Rudbeckia and Echinacea:

Of course the biggest fall attraction are leaves on trees and shrubs as chlorophyll disappears, leaving a multitude of reds, oranges, yellows and browns. They’re all starting here, including this interesting example of a Devil’s Walking Stick – Aralia spinosa. I’ve had this in the ground now for about five years and, although it hasn’t yet bloomed, I enjoy the massive leaves and the buttery yellow/orange they turn at the end of summer. Notice, in the close-up, how there are even thorns on the petioles that are protruding through the leaflets…

Given our summer drought, I’m not sure how spectacular our fall colours will be this year…but here are a few more examples of what I’m seeing this week. Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Staghorn Sumac – Rhus typhina – just starting to turn
A sugar maple – Acer saccharum – half red, half green…
One of my new red maples – Acer rubrum – promises for the future!

18 Comments

  2. Oh my, fall color already! I should see if we got any. I saw some ‘color’ in crape myrtles that get stressed from lack of water at the end of summer, but I do not think that it is the same thing as genuine fall color. I do not expect to find any yet, since it is a bit later here.

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    1. That would make sense eh? Chlorophyll breaks down when temperatures drop and daylight shortens…we’ve had many nights with single digit temps already – ie mid 40’s, and we’re down to less than 12 hours of sunlight a day…

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  3. Looks like you have some wonderful fall colours in the garden.

    We had a lovely trip to Kingston and up to Terry & Don’s in the Kawarthas, with Paul. Such great weather for his stay here. We talked a lot about gardens and he said that usually his begonias make it through the winter. Quite gobsmaking really.

    Sorry to have missed you on our trip through the County. The Cider restaurant in Waupoos was a highlight.

    I’m just watching the Canada vs England World cup women’s game of rugby football. On my brother’s recommendation. Canada losing but close. Rough game. PM Carney in audience.

    Sent from my Galaxy

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  5. Your Stout Goldenrod is definitely a lot different than the regular ‘wild Goldenrod’…which I’ve let grow & grow & spread in the past, almost 40 years. Have you ever seen a Brown-hooded Owlet caterpillar? I’ve had 3 in past years, they are so colorful! Loved by the Bumbles, Asters are so pretty!

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    1. Yes, it’s a very different looking goldenrod! I’m kinda liking it a lot so far. The Brown-hooded Owlet caterpillar looks quite pretty although the moth is pretty nondescript. I’ve likely seen them but not known what they are…

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  7. I’m especially fond of those asters, and who doesn’t like bumblebees? While massive displays of autumn color always impress, I must say that your Devil’s Walking Stick leaves are appealing. Sometimes the softer colors convey the season as well as those that seem fit for calendars and magazine covers. I really enjoyed your ‘mixed bouquet’ of Gaillardia, asters, coneflower, and such as well. Just lovely!

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    1. Thank you! I also appreciate the softer colours – the warm yellows and golds…Basswood (Tilia americana) leaves do that, right now, and hickory leaves as well, in a few weeks- quite a few of both along the driveway.Devil’s Walking Stick leaves are amazing in so many ways…HUGE to begin with, thorny!, and great fall colour.

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  8. Those autumn colours are lovely Chris, and it has only just begun! Great idea to chop the Chrysanths – that white one is pretty. Have you ever dared do that to your asters? Some of mine get so tall and floppy I must try the Chelsea chop one year – if I can pick up the courage!

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