Something about October hires one to the woods. It is the best time to dig native ferns. Although the fronds may be dry one can still tell the kind it is.
Native Ferns Grow Under Trees
Since the native ferns usually grow under trees a hatchet will cut mats of roots so that the whole mass of fern roots may be lifted out.
Ferns do not grow deep but wide. They like woodsy soil and part shade.
A camellia bed is to their taste, making a thing of beauty when the camellias are not blooming.
Cleaned Out Annuals
All spent annuals should be cleaned out and anything not diseased may go to the compost pile. We plant now for the spring pageant of color.
Planting of Seeds
In the open, plant seeds of snapdragons, anchusa, and cornflowers (Centaurea). Seeds of cornflowers come in self colors, white, bright and dark blue, pink and rosy red. They make a more vivid spring splash when planted in masses of one color.
Plant in Wel-Pulverized Beds
California poppies, Shirley poppies, and larkspur all may be planted in well-pulverized beds. Both nierembergia, a small purple bell-shaped flower, and baby blue eyes (nemophila), blooming bright blue upright bells, may be planted now.
Pretty Edgings For Daffodil Beds
Both these make pretty edgings for yellow daffodil beds and bloom with many daffodils. Queen Anne’s lace, with heads of white blooms, is nice for the background. These usually self-sow for a year or so.
Bells of Ireland do best when fall planted. Plant lots of annual phlox (drummondi). October planted dianthus will bloom early in spring and then continue almost all season. The same may be said for gloriosa daisies.
Plant Tall Marigolds
As cut flowers, they last for a week or more. Leave room to plant tall marigolds among them when the danger of frost is over in spring. They make nice companions. Border some beds with curly parsley.
Another ornamental edible vegetable is endive. Our best variety is Florida Green-hearted. I use this to border some rose beds for winter greenness.
A quick salad green grown in the South is roquette, a member of the mustard family. It is ready to pick in six weeks or less.
Magnolias: Deciduous Shrubs and Small Trees
Among the deciduous shrubs and small trees, we may plant in fall are the magnolias. Of those of Asiatic origin, stellata is best for small gardens. It seldom grows more than 15 feet tall but blooms heavily.
The blooms have about a dozen petals, white and sweetly perfumed. The buds are velvety, chartreuse colored. This blooms early with the daffodils.
Atlas: Mock-Orange Plant
A nice mock-orange (philadelphus) is `Atlas.’ It grows to 5 ft and blooms with the early roses, large, silver dollar size flowers almost as big as dogwood blossoms.
Plants of ajuga, calendula, Phlox divaricata, perennial phlox, stokesia, violets, violas, pansies, and English daisies all may be set out now in good humusy well-enriched beds. If it is dry, give them water.
Balanced Fertilizer for Winter Growing Plants
All the winter growing things should have a balanced fertilizer worked into the ground. This is most beneficial when they are bordering daffodil beds for the daffs will be all the better in their spring glory of bloom.
Old Perrenial Pea
In June I saw the old perennial pea (lathyrus) spilling down steep terraces along the road, blooming sweet pea-like blooms in pink, rosy reds, and white, covering red clay with beauty.
This pea has an enormous root system and can take care of itself. It is evergreen here. Pot up amaryllis bulbs for winter bloom.
Those from the garden which bloomed in May cannot be forced. Use good friable soil in pots two inches wider than the bulbs. Keep them fed and watered and have them bloom for Christmas.
44659 by Kitty Simpson