Hess Landscape Architects

Fall Color

As the temperatures continue to drop, so do the leaves of many of our trees…but not before they put on their final show of the season.
 
We all know leaves are green because of the presence of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for photosynthesis.  As trees shut down for winter, photosynthesis becomes unnecessary and chlorophyll starts to degrade along with the prominent green coloration.  Other hidden pigments already present within the leaf are then expressed visually, such as yellow xanthophylls and orange beta-carotene.  However other pigments (anthocyanins) which produce brilliant reds and purples must be chemically synthesized from other compounds present within the leaf.  The quantity of available coloration pigments and raw ingredients, as well as the timing of chlorophyll breakdown itself will influence how a plant’s coloration is ultimately expressed.

Environmental factors dictate the amount and intensity of fall coloration (temperature/degree days, heat spikes, diurnal shift, soil temperature, drought, excessive rainfall, etc.).  The precise combination of these influences will fluctuate in a temperate climate such as ours (USDA Hardiness Zone 6-B), assuring recurrent climatological distinction not just between seasons, but also within seasons.  This variation assures that no two years will produce exactly the same fall coloration results among our deciduous plant life.  Think of it as Mother Nature’s way of rolling out a new line of apparel for the fall season every year! 

yellow leaves canvas the drive as you approach the house

no shortage of color here!

For the sake of simplification I tend to compare the current season’s fall color to mental snapshots of previous years, and have adopted a three-tier scale to rate the overall display – below average, average, and above average.  This year started out as below average, as early-coloring Ash trees shed leaves with little color change.  This soon improved markedly though, as all species of Maple trees had exceptionally good seasons for color; the Red Maples in my own yard had their best display ever in fact, flaunting brilliant reds and yellows simultaneously for nearly ten days.  Plants that transform late in the season such as Oaks, Viburnums, Sweetspire, and certain Hydrangeas have also shown appropriate levels of coloration.
 
Final conclusion:  I’m calling 2011 an “Above-Average” year.  This was the wettest year on record for the region, which I’m sure played a factor in determining coloration.  At least there was a silver lining to the seemingly endless rain we endured from August through mid-October!

stunning reds found in leaves and fruits

Fall Blooms

From time to time, various members of our office staff will be posting on our blog, expounding on topics within their particular areas of interest and expertise.  As one of the office’s resident “plant geeks,” horticulture is where the majority of my entries will focus, and with any luck they will be at least slightly more engrossing than watching paint dry!

Typically we view fall as a time for the landscape to begin dormancy, as the garden settles in for its winter slumber.  However, there are quite a few plants that are just hitting their stride once the air turns a little chilly.  The following are two late-blooming perennials worthy of greater consideration.

Tatarian Aster (Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’):  Asters are one of the true kings of fall for showy bloom, and Jindai Tatarian Aster is further proof of this (photographed below alongside Switch Grass and Joe Pye Weed).  Found in Japan by Rick Darke, this selection is shorter than the species at about 4’ tall.  Like other Asters, this remains unassuming during the spring and summer months before putting on its big performance in the fall, with pale lavender daisy-like flowers borne above the foliage.  However ‘Jindai’ has two big advantages.  First, unlike other Asters that tend to look weedy during the summer, the foliage on this plant is heavier and more abundant, producing a nicer texture in the border.  Secondly, most Asters begin to bloom in early September and are basically finished by mid-October…but not this one.  ‘Jindai’ is just beginning to bloom here in mid-October, and does not stop until mid-November.  This provides a nice late-season shot of color to the garden juxtaposed against fall foliage, and the blooms are enticing for last-minute butterflies to grab a snack.  ‘Jindai’ does best in full sun and well-drained soil, but does appear somewhat tolerant of heavier soil.

Hybid Anemone (Anemone x hybrid ‘Honorine Jobert’):  Another exceptionally showy fall bloomer.  ‘Honorine Jobert’ produces masses of pure white single blooms 2” across with yellow stamens in the centers.  They tolerate a wide range of exposures, blooming in both full sun or part shade.  One of the last perennials to leaf out in the spring, Hybrid Anemones spread by rhizomes to form dense colonies.  Give them plenty of room to spread, as they will quickly form unbroken mats of foliage.  Any unwanted growth is easily removable to keep the habit of the plant in check, and plants typically respond well to spring division.  Basal, three-lobed foliage is neat and tidy, and held within 18” of the ground, so they remain neutral partners to summer-blooming companion perennials.  Starting around Labor Day, the plants send sinewy flower shoots above the foliage (30” – 42”), and the blooms persist until the first hard frost.  It also makes an excellent cut flower.

Metal Arbor

It’s very gratifying when old clients love and respect your design ideas enough that they want you back to develop a different aspect of their property.  About a year ago while working in the office the phone rang, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear it was a former client requesting that we perform new work.  Years ago we completed a pool and pool house for the homeowners; a few years later we redeveloped their driveway and entrance to their home.  Now they wanted us to recreate a vision they had seen while traveling in Italy for their home.  We were able to work with their idea and fashion a beautiful metal arbor that spans their rear terrace overlooking the pool and pool house.  Intentionally spare in its proportions, the delicate metal structure was constructed last fall and planted with Bignonia, a semi-evergreen, flowering vine.  Just a few days ago I was nearby, so I stopped in to see how it was evolving one year hence.  It just happened to be a bright and beautiful September day and I couldn’t resist taking some photos.  Here are a few of my favorites:

a little piece of italy

in just one year the bignonia is already reaching across

the arbor