BLOOMTOWN

Mutant Hosta Sighting

Recently, I came upon this unique and attractive oddity as I was touring a client garden installed a couple of years ago. This was bought and installed as Hosta 'Sum and Substance', follow the link for photos. This is normally a bold large-leaved variety with solidly-colored chartreuse foliage. Solidly-colored foliage, I say. Not a lusciously mottled variegation of deep rich green and luminous chartreuse.

What will it look like next year? Will it be stable?  I'll definitely be keeping my eye on it. Where's this beauty located? I'll never tell.

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UPDATE: Conversation with@JoshSpece on Twitter confirms that this hosta is a victim of Hosta Virus X. I've seen hostas stricken with the virus before but they usually look weak, wilty and/or puckered. This one's foliage was quite smooth and, I dare say, very attractive. Be sure to follow to the link to Josh's excellent post on the topic.

In the meantime, it's off to the trash heap for this one. DO NOT compost infected plants as it will lead to risk of spreading the virus. Josh tells me via twitter that you may replant a new, uninfected hosta in the same position if you're absolutely certain that you've gotten the entire plant removed, roots and all. So it might be best to wait a year or so, so that any remaining roots have a chance to decompose.

Fall finale in Bloomtown kitchen garden

 

Even the kitchen garden seems to be getting into the act, offering up a late-season finale. There are some plants that seem to really get a second wind with the cooler days of fall; the rainbow Swiss chard is looking lush, full and colorful in a couple areas of my garden. Though I think some, like the lemons, kick into high gear because they sense that their time is running out, figuring they better get a move on if they're going to deliver anything for the season.

 
Now that the Meyer lemon is starting to color up their true identity is revealed. For months, garden visitors have been commenting on the limes that I was growing! The Cuban oregano shown in the foreground of this photo is one of my favorite ornamental edibles. Though I have to admit that I seem to be growing this strictly as an ornamental; I have yet to use it in my cooking. Guess I'm not sure how to use it. Any tips from readers on that?

 
I don't normally think of strawberries as a source of fall color, but this season they're sure adding a nice pop of red in these baskets hanging from my eaves. 

Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’

Pictured below -- Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' in all its fall glory.

I've been growing this beauty in a container in my garden for several years now and it'll likely be happy in my relatively large container for quite some time. This small tree grows quite slowly; according to the Great Plant Picks site, it's expected to reach only 8 to 10 feet tall by 6 to 8 feet wide in ten years.

Its deeply dissected leaves are green in summer and a bit larger and bolder than some of the other maples, lending nice textural contrast in my garden. But in my mind it really shines in fall; its electrifying color shining like a lantern as it illuminates a dark corner in my garden. It buoys my heart as we transition into the increasingly overcast days of autumn.