Looking Good in September

There’s still good stuff happening in the garden right now. Despite what the glossy magazines may tell you it isn’t all about Asters (or whatever they’re called now).

This is a scene I’m quite pleased with, and it’s possibly 50% planned, which is novel. The big blue leaves of Melianthus major have been looking good for the entire year (I posted previously about how well it coped with the summer heat and drought). Other plants have joined the show now summer is turning into autumn.

Kniphofia rooperi, Melianthus major and Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’

The yellow daisies of Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' have been making a contribution for a little while. It’s a little more mildewed than I would normally expect, but it has been a challenging year.

The pokers of Kniphofia rooperi are more recent arrivals, and more keep coming. I’m writing this in the early days of October, and new flower spikes continue to be pushed up. In the low autumn sunlight they’re almost fluorescent.

There are also two Miscanthus here, providing slightly quieter support. Towards the front is M. ‘Zebrinus’, and at the back is M. ‘Roland’. Roland is normally much taller than this (well over 2 metres), but I think the drought this year has held him back a little.

A view of the same area from the other side, nicely highlighting the mildew on the Helianthus (this is just one of those things that occurs, and really not worth worrying about). The flower heads of Miscanthus ‘Roland’ are more visible here. There are two different banana to be seen also, Musa sikkimensis in the foreground, and Musa basjoo in the background.

The bananas will continue to look good until at least early November, which is when the first real frosts tend to hit us here. M. basjoo is totally reliable here over winter, I will protect it with a straw overcoat just to make sure. The sikkimensis is a bit more touch and go in terms of winter hardiness, but it will get the same treatment as it’s tougher cousin, and hopefully will survive in situ to provide the same show next year.