Bringing some life to my ugly retaining wall!

Autumn is the start of citrus season - and my meyer lemon are almost ready. It's also mum season, but first let's talk lemons!

There are dozens of different types of lemons, but what makes meyer lemons stand our are their thin rind and sweeter taste. The rind is actually so thin, it's nearly edible! The lemons we usually see at the stores are called "Eurekas" if you're looking to grow those!

Meyer lemon fruits aren't too common to see for sale, but they're the most common lemon available to grow for home growing because they are nearly thornless and stay small. The fruit can stay fresh on the tree virtually all winter, so there's no rush to pick them.

- MUMS -

Did you know there are 13 different types of chrysanthemums but we usually only see ONE flower type available at most stores? The common mum flower is classified as "decorative mums", but look at how cool these "anemone Chrysanthemums" are in my garden. They have simple petals on the edges and a raised center that kind of looks like a golf ball. Thanks to the Long Island Chrysanthemum Society for the fun plant!

Time to (start to) bring the tropical plants inside

Temperatures are still very warm as we approach late October and it looks like these plants could stay outside into November this year. It's pretty remarkable how mild autumn has been getting in New York. Highs are still regularly hitting 70s and we have 80F highs in the forecast for 10/21 and 10/22. That's pool weather! 

Anyway, I don't have time to bring the plants inside in November so I'm starting to bring them in a little earlier than I have to. The Adondila palm and rubber tree are from my high school garden collection. Today they're going inside!

 

The Northern Lights are DANCING in the sky over my New York garden!

 

Happy October - here's what's in bloom here on Long Island!

 The garden is SO full of life, but this post is allllll about the blooms.

I wish I'd get blooms from my Hibiscus tiliaceus, but the leaves are pretty enough. 

I might get blooms from my Variegated Plumeria Maya though!! 

Lets start off with some Dahlias! I adore these plants and will bring these into the garage this winter. 

Love these shorter growing Dahlias

My driveway fruit garden is doing SO well this year. I love the way the sweet potato vines have created a living wall here. And there are SO many lemons on the way!

My × Gordlinia grandiflora started blooming in September. That's when these photos were taken. I got it last year and have not left it outside for the winter - until now. This will be it's first one!

Special shoutout to these cute button zinnias. Definitely planting these again next year!

Lets talk about Ginger! All my hedychium survived the winter outside. This giant one is called fiesta. It's my largest EVER!

The blooms are kind of peach! 

Another winter survivor, Hedychium Daniel Weeks!

Underneath my bananas is a ginger I decided to overwinter inside the house instead of letting them go dormant in the garage. This is Hedychium Vanilla Ice. 

Geraniums are doing fabulous under the mule palm. I bring these inside the garage for the winter. My Chrysanthemums stay outside 

A few more nice blooms ....

Crinum and Zinnia 

Tibouchina granulosa

Plumeria "Melody"

Nasturtium 

Mandevilla Giant Peach

Black Eye Susan growing in between the pavers!

Hibiscus

Ixora