Pass-along perennials: Spruce up your garden at Goodwood's Fall Plant Sale
I love to garden. But gardening in summer is a chore, not a pleasure. I get out early wearing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, hat, and insect repellent.
The heat, humidity and mosquitoes are relentless. Thanks to the rain we had in August, the weeds have overwhelmed my garden. I ignored them and now have paid the price. My garden is a weedy mess.
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But fall is here, with blessed cool mornings. I’m weeding, pruning and making plans to add new plants to give my garden a refresh. Many of the plants offered at the annual Fall Plant Sale at Goodwood Museum and Gardens, which is Saturday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m., are on my list.
I bet you gardeners out there know fall is the best time in the South to plant perennials and cool weather herbs and vegetables.
The plant sale will include a wide variety of pass-along perennials, ornamental vines, shrubs, groundcovers, annuals, herbs, and vegetables. A number of hard-to-find heirloom varieties are featured, including the weeping butterfly bush, Buddleia lindleyana.
And, you can’t go wrong with native plants. You’ll find Stoke’s Aster, Coontie, Golden Ragwort, Texas Star Hibiscus, Turk's Cap Hibiscus (a hummingbird favorite that does best in part shade), and Maidenhair Fern, among others.
For those who like house plants there are a nice selection of those. Begonia lovers won’t be disappointed.
A beautiful rhizomatous perennial for hanging baskets, pots and the front of a border that does well summer through fall is Achimenes longiflora or Magic Flower.
These came from my garden; the selection is limited. Peacock Ginger will be on sale; it’s a good ground cover for the shade that blooms in the fall. Other fall bloomers offered are: Korean Mums and Philippine Violets. For those who missed out on the double-orange daylily sold at the spring sale, we have a large selection of these and other daylilies.
Several varieties of irises are on sale, including to native blue flag. A good one to plant on a slope that does best in part shade is the Bamboo Iris. It’s a spring bloomer, but fall is the best time to plant it, as is true of all the plants offered at the sale. See you there!
Come early for the best selection! Bring your own wagon if you can. The sale will continue on the following two Fridays from 9 a.m. until noon at the greenhouse.
If you go
What: The 2022 Goodwood Fall Plant Sale
When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15
Where: Virginia McKee Greenhouse at Goodwood Museum & Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road; goodwoodmuseum.org
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Pass-along perennials: Spruce up garden at Goodwood's Fall Plant Sale
