September 1, 2016
As Santa Fe is transitioning into fall the blue skies and cloud formations have been magnificent and the autumn blooming plants are coming alive at Santa Fe Botanical Garden at Museum Hill. A fall standout is Muhlenbergia reverchonii ‘Autumn Embers’ with its pinkish-reddish flowers, planted in groups or massing, is simply ethereal and poetic. One could imagine groups of ‘Autumn Embers’ muhly grass, alternating with Agave parryi, would be quite interesting – a contrasting of ethereal feel and light with the structured Agave.
Muhlenbergia reverchonii ‘Autumn Embers’ (Photo by Joan Grabel)
Agave parryi (Photo by Joan Grabel)
Another wonderful composition is the eye catching Salvia ‘Rasberry Delight’ combined with the blue flowering Aster × frikartii ‘Monch’ and yellow flowering Hartweg’s sundrops (Calylophus hartwegii ssp. fendleri) – a cheerful combination of color.
Hartweg’s sundrops (Calylophus hartwegii ssp. fendleri) by Joan Grabel
Not to be missed is the new planting just before you arrive to Kearny’s Gap Bridge of the native Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus) with its dark green glossy leaves and deep purple flowers, truly exquisite!
Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus) Photo by Joan Grabel.
For a country cottage garden, the climbing fragrant ‘New Dawn’ rose is looking lovely. Perhaps combined with the orange flowered ‘Pat Austin’ rose and the prolific ROZANNE geranium would be a delightful combo.
‘New Dawn’ rose (Photo by Joan Grabel)
‘Pat Austin’ rose (photo by Joan Grabel)
ROZANNE geranium (photo by Joan Grabel)
Don’t forget to check out the cactus area. The salmon-red color of the fruit of the Klein’s cholla is not to be missed. One can imagine this cactus in mass.
Klein’s cholla (Cylindropuntia kleiniae) photo by Joan Grabel.
Joan Grabel Biography
Joan Grabel is a landscape designer in Santa Fe, NM and Los Angeles, California
