Sedum

Sedum

Love Your Landscape – by Adam Haynes, Artisan Landscapes

No one likes the feeling that summer is winding down, but I think we can all agree there is something about the back-to-school season that’s filled with promise of new beginnings. This time of year offers fall colors in bloom, the bounty of harvesting fruits and vegetables from backyard gardening, and the uptick in the prominence of farmers markets.

You may have noticed the trend toward consumers becoming more and more interested in where their food comes from.

Imagine coming into the kitchen with bags of salad greens, veggies and berries without having to go to the grocery store. This time of year provides the ultimate harvest for reaping the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor as well as those of local markets. Customers of farmers markets frequently pay lower prices and often buy in bulk, preserving the food for future use by pickling, canning, drying, or freezing.

According to the National Gardening Association, nearly 19 million of us planned to grow our own vegetables in backyard gardens, and seed companies continue to see sales grow. Some backyard growers even sell their excess vegetables at local markets, seeking to make a profit from their own gardens. It can be a unique part-time cash-flow infusion for an individual or family with an abundant harvest and an entrepreneurial spirit.

As summer fades into the beginning stages of autumn, people don’t want to give up their fun in the sun, and there’s a legitimate reason for that: The waning sunlight might actually make you feel less energetic in the months to come. To help boost your energy through the coming darker months, you might want to think about eating apricots, apples, grapes, pears, and oranges to stay alert. These fruits boost serotonin levels that may increase your overall energy.

Let’s not forget the beauty that arrives with this time of year as well: Fall-blooming perennials.

  • One of a group of great native plants is the daisy family, helenium offers its blooms at the end of the season. This is one tough plant that is also easy-to-grow.
  • It’s fun to have some contrast to all the warm autumnal shades. Russian sage does the trick with its airy blue flowers and silvery foliage. Another reason it’s a favorite: It’s tough as nails and both the foliage and blooms have a great scent.
  • One of the quintessential autumn plants, sedum, bursts into bloom at summer’s end. This tough plant laughs off all summer’s heat and drought to look great in your garden at the end of the season.
  • Most gardeners are familiar with the spring-blooming crocuses but overlook the fall types. They’re perfect for the garden, too.

With the pending change in seasons, we can all look forward to more productive visits to our local farmers markets, the opportunity to carry our own food from garden to table, and the enjoyment of the unique variety of fall colors that can bloom this time of year.

AdamHaynescolorAdam Haynes is the owner of Artisan Landscapes, Inc. Contact him at 541-292-3285, adam@artisanlandscapesinc.com, or visit his website at www.artisanlandscapesinc.com.

Posted September 16, 2013