I’ve read that more than once recently, I wish I could remember where. The point being, gardeners who rush to tidy up the autumn garden miss out on the winter interest leaving the brown foliage in place can provide.
The sentiment sends me thinking about gardens like this one, where there are lots of seed heads and tall grasses. Not so much my own garden where fallen leaves must be quickly removed so as not to become soggy in the inevitable rain – reducing air circulation around the succulents and increasing the likelihood of rot and death.
As I thought about it, and wandered around my own garden, I realized the multiple shaggy mounds of hakonechloa do add a seasonally appropriate touch of gold.
Their texture invites your fingers comb through…
The browned thorns of Rosa sericea var. pteracantha (Wingthorn Rose) aren’t as shocking as the blood red, springtime, coloration.
But still draw the eye.
Imperata cylindrica (blood grass) retains a bit of red.
And Pennisetum purpureum, although no longer purple, stands tall through the wind and rain.
Newly discovered, and my favorite of all right now, Cornus sanguinea ‘Compressa’. Our interesting autumn weather (unseasonably warm with an abrupt frost) has produced a gorgeous bronze blush to its leaves.
I’m going to do my best to let all of these browns stick around as long as they like. Except for those fallen leaves smothering the succulents. Must get outside and take care of them now…