We love camellias! An Asian native and an old southern standby, they are now a favorite in the northern states as well. In recent years, new varieties have been developed for their increased cold hardiness, giving northern gardeners even more opportunities to enjoy these charming beauties. Blooming in October, November and even into early December, fall-blooming camellias provide an abundance of colorful showy blooms that can now be enjoyed in colder climates.

Camellias do best in rich, moist, well-drained, acidic (5.5-6.5 pH) soil. Plant camellias in a location where they will be protected from the drying winter sun and wind or else the delicate blooms may suffer. Because these shrubs are shallow-rooted, they should be planted no deeper than they are planted in the pot that you purchase them in. Apply 3-4 inches of mulch to the root zone to keep soil moist and control weeds. Compost added to the soil can also help provide suitable nutrition to keep these plants healthy. Water camellias first when newly planted and frequently during times of low rainfall – a drip system can be a great option to keep these shrubs suitably moist. Fertilize in the spring with a fertilizer specified for acid-loving plants. If purchasing and planting camellias in the fall, be sure to give them a little extra TLC to help them through their first couple of winters and they will reward you with their beauty for years to come.

To help you choose the most beautiful fall-blooming camellias for your landscape, consider these attractive cultivar options!

• Ashton’s Pride: Lavender-pink, single flowers with yellow centers
• Ashton’s Snow: Creamy white flowers in semi-double blooms
• Long Island Pink: Single blooms with bright pink colors and ruffled petals
• Mason Farm: Pink, single flowers with a white tinge
• Northern Exposure: Pink buds that open to single white, papery flowers
• Winter’s Darling: Deep pink flowers with anemone shapes
• Winter’s Fancy: Deep rich pink, semi-double blooms
• Winter’s Interlude: Light pink blooms with anemone shapes and peachy centers
• Winter’s Joy: Bright bold pink, semi-double blooms
• Winter’s Star: Single lavender-pink pale blooms with yellow centers
• Winter’s Water Lily: Elegant white flowers with a formal double shape

No matter which fall-blooming camellia you choose, if you give it the proper care, it will love you right back with abundant growth and stunning blooms that bring an air of southern charm and hospitality to your yard.

Although many gardeners plant trees and shrubs in the spring, knowledgeable gardeners plant in the fall to take advantage of all this fabulous season has to offer. But why is fall planting better than spring planting?

• Stress Reduction
  Transplanting causes stress as plants are removed from containers, balls or established locations and changed to new locations. Planting in the fall, when a plant is entering dormancy and is generally hardier and sturdier, reduces this stress so the plant can thrive.

• Establishing Strong Roots
  Fall planting “establishes” trees and shrubs by encouraging root growth. Because the soil is still warm, the roots continue to develop until freezing, though the upper parts of the plant are already dormant. When transplanting in the spring, the developed roots are active and delicate tips or rootlets, as well as buds and new leaves, are more easily damaged.

• Weather Resiliency
  Trees and shrubs planted in the fall are better able to withstand the rigors of the next summer’s heat and dry conditions because they have much longer to develop healthy roots systems and become thoroughly established. This is especially critical in dry climates or areas prone to drought or irregular rainfall.

• Faster Maturity
  The “head-start” of fall planting results in a larger plant in less time, helping create a mature landscape without waiting for smaller plants to catch up. This can be especially critical when replacing dead or damaged plants in a mature landscape to avoid a gap or uneven look.

• Water Conservation
  Planting in the fall saves watering time and promotes conservation by eliminating daily watering. Cooler temperatures with the addition of both morning and evening dew contribute greatly to soil moisture availability in fall without as much supplemental watering.

• Color Confirmation
  Fall is the best time to see a plant’s autumnal color. Planting in the fall eliminates the surprise of the wrong color or unexpected shades that may not coordinate with nearby plants. By planting in autumn, you’ll know exactly what you’re purchasing and planting, and you will be able to match better with your existing landscape.

• Saving Money
  Last but definitely not least, buying your beautiful trees and shrubs in autumn can save big money. We discount prices on trees and shrubs to create room for holiday season materials and pass the savings on to you. Selection may be more limited later in fall, however, so don’t wait too long to take advantage of great savings.

Autumn can be the ideal time to plant trees and shrubs, whether you are adding to your landscape, replacing plants or starting a whole new look. If you plant in autumn, you’ll be amazed at how lovely your landscape will look next spring.

Fall is here and after hiding inside in the cool comfort of our air conditioning through the hottest, driest, buggiest time of the year, our interest in revisiting the outdoors is renewed. Reemerging from self-imposed exile into the garden, it is pure joy and a relief to witness the tenacity of late season bloomers that have had to bear, with no assistance or relief, the dog days of summer. One such plant, reliable and prolific, is Clematis virginiana, better known as Devil’s Darning Needle.

Devil’s Darning Needle – also called Devil’s Hair, Love Vine and Woodbine – is a North American native vine. It is very similar in habit and appearance to the Japanese native, Sweet Autumn Clematis (C. terniflora) that most of us are familiar with, yet Devil’s Darning Needle is not as aggressive and can be better controlled in the landscape. C. virginiana is a vigorous, twining, deciduous vine, growing about 15 feet in a season. This plant is in best form when planted next to a supporting structure such as an arbor, trellis, fence, tree or shrub. Its quick growth rate makes this an excellent choice where quick privacy is needed, such as along a fence, shielding a patio or forming a wall around a deck. If unsupported, it will sprawl along the ground.

What makes this plant so alluring is its annual, overwhelming display of 1 and 1/4 inch, highly fragrant, star-shaped, pure white blossoms produced in billowy masses in the fall followed by ornamental, silvery, plume-like seed heads. Both flowers and seed heads work well in floral arrangements. Either in the yard or in a vase, this prolific bloomer will not disappoint.

Devil’s Darning Needle is easy to grow. As a low-maintenance vine, it is rarely troubled by pests or disease. It performs well in moist to wet soil of average fertility and prefers full sun to part shade, although it will thrive and bloom in considerable shade. Supplemental watering may be necessary during times of drought. In late winter or early spring, prune C. virginiana back hard to about one foot from the ground to encourage spring growth, but be certain to leave at least two strong buds on each stem. During the growing season, monitor the vine if it is growing through a shrub to make certain that the shrub is not being overwhelmed. No special care is needed to trim it back to control size, but it can be pruned for shape if desired.

Devil’s Darning Needle can be an amazing addition to your landscape, and its late summer and early fall beauty is sure to delight just when other plants begin to fade.

As development continues to threaten wildlife habitats, it is essential that we create a bird-friendly environment that provides food, water, and shelter. This will ensure the survival of many species of birds, as well as other wildlife. 

By providing these resources, we can help protect the biodiversity of our planet and create a more sustainable future for all living things. Additionally, creating a bird-friendly environment can also bring people closer to nature and help them connect with the natural world. Birds are an integral part of any healthy ecosystem, and their well-being is a barometer for the health of the overall environment.

So what do we mean by “birdscaping?” This is a term coined by Jan Johnson in her gardening book, Gardentopia, birdscaping is when you plant an array of berried plants in your yard so birds will stop by and feed on them—because berries are a necessary part of their diet. Birdscaping can also help your other plants, because birds will also feed on pests in your garden, like beetles and larvae, that would’ve otherwise caused harm to your blooms.

Benefits of Wild Birds

Birds are great guests to have in your yard, garden, or landscape. They provide more benefits than many homeowners and gardeners realize. 

Wild birds will…

• Control insects by feasting on both flying and crawling insects, as well as spiders, slugs, snails, and other creepy crawlies.
• Control rodents when raptors visit the yard in search of mice, rats, gophers, voles or other unwanted pests.
• Manage weeds as they consume copious amounts of weed seeds before the seeds ever have a chance to sprout.
• Pollinate plants by flitting from flower to flower as they seek out insects or eat seeds, taking pollen along between blooms.

Attracting Backyard Birds

Fortunately, it is easy to attract a wide variety of backyard birds when you offer them what they need most – food, water, and shelter.

Food for Birds

Wild birds rely on both natural and supplemental food supplies. So it’s important to consider both when birdscaping. Feeding the birds is most important in the winter when natural food is scarcer, but they will visit feeders at any time of year. Migratory birds require additional food in the spring and fall as they pass through the region and nesting birds will utilize feeders in the summer.

Tips:

• Provide a variety of natural foods for birds by planting berry bushes, seed-bearing flowers, nectar-rich flowers, and sunflowers. 
• Leave windfall fruit on the ground for birds to nibble. 
• Minimize pesticide use so birds can feast on insects as well.
• Add supplemental feeders to your yard, such as birdseed feeders, suet feeders, and nectar feeders. 
• Clean feeders weekly to avoid mold that can be dangerous to birds, and be sure feeders are full when birds need them most.

Water

Improve your backyard bird habitat by adding water. Birds require a constant supply of clean water for drinking and bathing. This is especially important in late summer when water is scarce, and in the winter, when it is frequently frozen.

Tips:

• Place bird baths in a protected location safe from predators, and keep the baths filled at all times so a fresh supply of water is constantly available.
• Scrub off algae as soon as it appears and thoroughly wash the bird bath each week to minimize feces contamination or other messes in the water.
• Provide motion for greater attraction by using a bubbler, wiggler, dripper, or fountain. Birds will see the sparkles of the moving water and will hear the splashes from great distances, so more birds will visit.
• Use Mosquito Dunks to safely prevent mosquito larvae in warm weather. A clean bird bath with moving water will also harbor fewer insects.
• Add an outdoor-safe submersible heater to the bath in winter to keep the water liquid instead of frozen, or consider using a fully heated bird bath during the coldest months.

Shelter

It is important to offer safe and comfortable shelter for your wild birds to nurture their young, protect them from predators and shield them from the elements. Planting evergreen trees and shrubs and providing birdhouses, along with roosting boxes and pockets, are all beneficial additions to your birdscape.

Tips:

• Choose both deciduous and evergreen landscaping trees and shrubs to offer birds different types of shelter in all seasons.
• Minimize pruning to give birds denser, more secure shelter to take advantage of when they feel threatened.
• Plant in layers and create thicket-like pockets or corridors in your landscape so birds can move around freely without feeling exposed.
• Supplement the shelter in your yard with good quality birdhouses, winter roost boxes, or nesting pockets to give birds even more options to stay safe and secure.

When you meet birds’ needs for food, water, and shelter, your birdscape will soon be home to a fun and friendly flock of backyard birds.