October 18, 2016
Since I received a few requests for one last look at the garden post-frost, I thought I’d oblige. I’ve removed the sad remnants of annuals, so the look is rather sparse. However, the maple foliage more than makes up for it. 
The half-hardy calendula (C. officinalis) continue to put forth gold and orange blossoms, for which I am grateful. The past two afternoons, a late migrating monarch has come to feed, so I am glad I had something to offer it.
Along the front, you can now see both mounds of silvery lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina). The left one was hidden all summer by an ambitious calendula, which I’ve removed.
The real stand-out is the beautiful, red foliage of the sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa).
The globe thistle (Echinops ritro) continues to push forth its new flower buds; it just might bloom before the deep cold sets in.
As the coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) self sows a bit too enthusiastically, I’ve cut back most of the seed heads and moved many plants to the half-wild herb bed next to the field, where it can go as crazy as it wants.
The blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’), though small, deepens in color.
Directly behind it, in the far back almost into the woods, the purple New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-anglia) still blooms.
The astilbe seed heads are rusty brown, the daylily foliage turns golden brown and some late-sown white flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata) bloom here and there.
I’m linking with Cathy at Words and Herbs, joining participants taking weekly photos of the same garden over the course of the growing season to note its evolution.
Below are some of the previous views for comparison:
April 1, 2016
June 28, 2016
July 26, 2016
August 2, 2016
September 6, 2016
September 13, 2016
October 4, 2016
Eliza Waters 
I love the burst of energy that the red foliage adds!! 🙂
Thank you, Aishwarya. Many gardeners cut those back after they flower because they get rather spindly, but I keep them around for their fall show. I love that color!
There are quite a few spots of beauties left!
Thank you, Anca. It’s true!
Very nice to see the full evolution of your garden. (Suzanne)
Thank you, Suzanne. It seemed to go by so fast, too!
I love watching your garden progress. Quite a change over the seasons and the year. I have so much trouble getting coneflowers to grow, much less come back every year, that I’m almost a little envious that yours self-sow so well.
Thanks, Robin. Maybe your soil is too sandy? I also think that the first year they need a bit of coddling, then once the roots are established, they are hardy. Maybe try a fall sowing? I could send you some seeds that are nice and fresh. 😉
That would be wonderful, Eliza! I’ll email my address to you. 😀
Okay!
So inviting and tranquil!
Things are definitely quietening down around here. 🙂
I’m starting to feel wistful.
Sad to see it go, isn’t it? It’s such a long slog until spring. 😦
You have created such wonderful little oasis of colour and form. It was lovely to see all the changes through out the months.
Thank you very much for following along with me. It was fun sharing what normally not many see. I don’t get many visitors!
Still looks lovely!
Thank you very much, Belinda!
Just think: in less than 5 1/2 months your garden will be back to the April 1st photo!😊😶
Now you’re talking! 😉
This was a wonderful thing to follow. I hope you do it again next year.
Thank you, Gigi. Glad to know you weren’t bored. I sometimes wondered if it was getting monotonous! 😉
The color has floated skyward. Lovely transition.
Thank you, Micheal. It has floated upwards! There was fair amount of leaf drop today with a breeze, so the color has changed yet again, and the canopy has opened once more.
Your maples are fabulous! And I’m intrigued by the Nicotiana; I would have expected it to go with the first frost. It certainly is making some bright spots out there, by the looks of it 🙂
Thanks! I’ve noted that the calendula and nicotiana can take a few light frosts – the mid-20s will usually do them in.
Lovely Eliza – but oh for self-seeding Echinacea! I have never noticed what gorgeous colours Oenothera turn in autumn – are they all like that? Finally – your Imperator cylindrica. Is it hardy with you. I always hesitate to plant it here, but so beautiful. Thanks for sharing your changing seasons!
Thank you, Cathy. Not sure about other Oenothera’s fall color. Our winter temps. drop to -15F (-26C) +- and I’ve had the Blood Grass ‘Red Baron’ for several years. It is hardy, but a slow grower in cold zones. I’ve read that it is more agressive in warmer climates.
We should be ok then as well – we drop (theoretically!) to about the same.
I am so glad you gave us another glimpse of the garden this week Eliza! Your maples are lovely and the red foliage of the Sundrops makes a big impact. Still lots to look at! I wish my Coneflowers would spread like yours… I think even if they did set seed the seedlings would be salad for the snails anyway!
Thank you, Cathy. Our slugs seem to pretty much leave them alone, esp. when there are daylilies and lupines to eat. 😉
Thank you it is nice to compare the whole season and because you’ve tidied up the view actually still looks rather good.
Thank you very much, Christina!
How fun to watch your garden develop over the months. Even though the flowers are mostly gone, the fall garden is still lovely. Just not as exuberant.
Thanks, Laurie. I’m happy there’s still flowers to pick!
What foliage Eliza, it’s beautiful.
Gracias, Maria.