Fall: Coleus in the Garden

 Come end of August, my sunpatiens are long and leggy, so after pulling them up, I love to plant coleus in the garden. The colors of coleus lend to the seasonal hues of Fall. 

My go-to plant nursery: Perino's

Coleus comes in an array of foliage colors, including red, pink, orange, yellow, chartreuse, green, burgundy and purple. Leaves 1-6” long can be pointed, oval or scalloped, many with intricate veining or patterns. Coleus flower in late summer, with blue flower spikes that are often trimmed off for a neater appearance. Though most are bush types, there are trailing varieties as well.  

Tolerant of sun, shade and heat, coleus is a quick grower that can be massed in the landscape, used as a filler element in a container, or allowed to cascade in a hanging basket or window box. With hundreds of different varieties to choose from, there’s a coleus to suit any garden style or color scheme.

2023 Halloween posts

It's Beginning to Look Like Halloween | Door Hanger & Flag | Pumpkin Stacks | Gone Batty! | Mummy | Spiders & Crows | Facade at Night | Living Room |

Coleus in the Garden, y'all!

In the Garden {Caladiums}

 One of my favorite plants in the summer is caladiums. They grow so well in the heat of the New Orleans summer, and the leaves are so big and bright. This year, I planted hundreds of Southern Charm caladium bulbs from my favorite garden center, Perinos. I love the white leaf with the red veining. Here is how they look in the front garden:

This fancy leaved new variety has unusually thick leaves held on sturdy upright petioles.  Southern Charm caladiums tolerate full sun. Well suited for container sizes 4″ and up.  Southern Charm also preforms well in combination pots and patio containers.

Southern Charm Caladiums, y'all!

In the Garden {Agapanthus)

 Though I did not get many blooms this year, several agapanthus blooms did appear. I'm so happy that I was able to find the white blooms several years ago for the front garden. I do love green and white, for it's always right!

Agapanthus is a genus of six species of fleshy-rooted perennials with a long history of taxonomic confusion. It was originally included in the lily family (Liliaceae), was then moved to the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), moved again into the onion family (Alliaceae), went back to Amaryllidaceae and now resides in its own family, the Agapanthaceae, a sister family to the Amaryllidaceae. Despite the common name of Lily-of-the-Nile, they are not native to the Nile River basin of northeastern Africa; this monotypic family (consisting of only one genus) is actually endemic to southern Africa. In its native areas, Agapanthus is considered to be both a magical and a medicinal plant, used to treat heart disease, paralysis, coughs, colds, and other ailments, and the leaves are used as bandages (the plant does contain chemicals with anti-inflammatory and other properties). 

Agapanthus, y'all!

If You Dare {In the Garden}

 There is no Fall Break this year due to the days missed for Hurricane Ida. I am so sad. I am teaching in a bank due to the damage the school sustained. I am even sadder. But as with everything, the world will go on and on and on... The month of October means pumpkin spice to many, pumpkin lattes, and of  course Halloween. Recently, J and I decorated for the season in the garden. Here are the first photos I am sharing today.

In the Garden, y'all!

Acorn Cottage {In the Garden: Courtyard}

 The summer heat and humidity is here, but I am enjoying my summer vacation. I recently snapped photos of the courtyard garden after the boxwoods were manicured. The greens are quite lush in the back garden. The ferns do so well especially with the excessive amounts of rainfall lately.

In the Garden, y'all!

In the Garden {Jasmine}

 Spring blooms bring such wonderful sights and even better scents. The jasmine blooming in the yard is intoxicating. 

Jasmine, y'all!