In our unique part of the world spring often comes not once, but twice a year! After our summer dry season is over and the rains return around the end of September or October, we are rewarded with another flush of growth and blossoming flowers from many plants in the garden. Grassy hillsides turn from the browns and yellows back into the lush green of spring and all around there are small signs of the “second spring” that is fall in the Northwest.
Take a look below at the second spring here at the nursery!
Many Mahonia species rejoice at the first sign of the rains returning by pushing their cheerful flower spikes that erupt into yellow spires that attract hummingbirds from October through February! We love these winter flowering plants and have them planted throughout the nursery to brighten the garden in the winter months.
It begins again! Even if we water them all summer long, the loquat trees will wait for the return of the rains and cooler temperatures to resume some modest vegetative growth and some not so modest, wholly vivacious and seductive flowering! One of our favorite parts of fall and winter in the garden is smelling the extremely fragrant loquat blossoms wafting from many yards away. Here’s to hoping they all set fruit next year!
This San Jose Osmanthus is about to steal the fall fragrance show and shower us in the heavenly wafting fragrance of fresh apricots for many weeks to come! This is also an evergreen variety that will keep its deep green foliage throughout the year.
Bupleurum fruticosum keeps its flower show going well into fall, attracting many a native pollinator, and the Grevilleas keep opening their spidery protea flowers all through winter. Come and get it hummingbirds!
Rosemary comes alive again in the fall with its tiny blueish purple flowers and the bees are loving it!
Tips for Planting in Fall
1. Only plant varieties that are proven hardy in your area. Putting in that hardy citrus from a gallon pot probably isn’t the best idea, but planting many of our native shrubs and plants that enjoy growing during the cooler season as well as those that are easily hardy in your area is always a great idea.
2. Be sure to water in your new plantings even if it’s the rainy season. Getting rid of those air pockets will help them to start spreading their roots into the surrounding soil immediately.
3. Mulch heavily! Fall plantings often begin growing again after finally escaping life in a pot, but excessive growth too late in the season can zap them when frost comes. Mulching heavily helps to keep the root system protected from extremes in temperature and keeps winter and spring germinating weeds from moving into your new planting area.
4. Consider your zone. If you are in zone 6 or below, we generally don’t recommend planting this time of year, as plants may not have enough time to harden off sufficiently to survive winter temperatures. For colder locations, spring planting will give your plants the best chance of successfully establishing.