GOURDS, PUMPKINS OR SQUASH?

AUTUMN is here and it is time to PICK YOUR PUMPKIN!

Or… is it a GOURD or a SQUASH? Which is which? How can you know?

ALL can be a festive part of your fall decorations as all are members of the Cucurbitaceae or Cucumber family.

Gourds have been cultivated for thousands of years for their usefulness.  Pumpkins have a strongly-flavored, coarser flesh, while Squash usually have fine grained flesh of mild flavor, and hence are more suitable for baking and edible enjoyment!

I also tend to think of GOURDS as having harder or warty shells and a more unusual shape.  PUMPKINS tend to be rounder and plumper; and while the skin can be textured, most are smooth.  SQUASH also are fleshy and typically have a more unusual shape. 

Confused?  Don’t worry, just pick one you like!  Depending on size, expect to pay from $3 for small gourds to $30 for large pumpkins.  Several local nurseries, farmers' markets and grocery stores have excellent selections. 

Here are some of my favorites:

GOURDS:

Kershaw - wonderfully variegated and works well with many colors!

Knucklehead - The texture of the warts are absolutely amazing!

Gooseneck or Swan - Graceful and elegant!

Looks wonderful with any fall flower! 

Warty - Gnarly and colorful and makes an impact!

Apple - Its shape gives it away. 

Consistent Green Color works well with yellows and purples!

PUMPKINS

One Too Many - is also variegated and resembles the Kershaw gourds.

New Moon - white, elegant and large.  Fall flowers pop against it!

Love it with silvers and purples!

Cinderella - Nice flatter shape makes it a good choice as a stacking pumpkin!

Peanut Shell - I love the texture of this pumpkin and think it is so unusual!

Fairy Tale - similar to Cinderella - but has more muted coloring.

Also an excellent stacking base!

SQUASH

Butternut - This squash is adorable and makes a good choice for smaller planters!

Blue Hubbard - Its shape and blue gray color blends well with many plantings!

I love it with reds!

Turk's Turban - I love how many colors are packed in this squash! 

Works with pale solid colors, such as white!

Acorn - Adorable and small. 

Tuck some into containers and planters with yellows to offer a dark contrast!

Jarradale - Another neutral gray which allows reds and oranges to stand out! 

Also stacks well!

Pair your gourds, pumpkins and squash with colorful marigolds, green and red lettuces and you will have a beautiful autumn decoration that can be enjoyed through Thanksgiving!

Photos Courtesy

of

MATER NATURA DESIGNS

FALL TO FROST

It is SEPTEMBER and Fall is right around the corner!  Crisp autumn mornings invigorate us as we begin a new season.  Fall is a great time of the year to garden!  Who does not enjoy being outdoors now?

So, if you are tired of ho-hum mums, try one of the plants listed here that will carry you from FALL to FROST.  We will start out with the featured Plant of the Month...

My neighbor has this delightful perennial in her front flower bed beckoning visistors toward her door. It is commonly known as Black-eyed Susan, but its botanical name is Rudbeckia hirta. This showy garden favorite graces borders and makes a choice cutting flower.  Another bonus is that it attracts butterflies and will continue to look great through fall.  Fairly drought tolerant and grows 2-3 feet in height.  Looks best planted in masses.  A plant native to the U.S., it thrives in our region.

MARIGOLDS!  Wow, use these as a mum substitute.  As you can see above and below, they come in yellow and orange - perfect colors for fall decorating!  The botanical name is Tagetes erecta (African Marigold) or Tagetes patula (French Marigold).  The French species is more heat tolerant - so look for the botanical name Tagetes patula on the tag!

The next two photos are Ornamental Peppers.  These small, bushy plants usually are 15 inches high and wide.  Fruits are yellow, orange, red or purple and are purely for decoration - so I would not try to eat them or you may be disappointed!  The first photo is 'Medusa' while the second picture is 'Purple Flash', which is particularly striking with its deep purple foliage.  These beauties make a great fall decoration and love a sunny location! 

The last plant I would suggest from Fall to Frost is Croton, botanical name Codiaeum variegatum pictum.  This plant has large, leathery, glossy leaves that are green, yellow, red, purple, bronze or almost any combination of these colors.  Looks great with gourds and pumpkins! See picture below!

ENJOY SEPTEMBER!

Come back in October for a new gallery of plants!

PHOTOS COURTESY

of

MATER NATURA DESIGNS

www.maternaturadesigns.com

THE GREENS

ARBORVITAE FERN

This time of year, when temperatures are scorching and leaves start to curl and brown, these serene greens caught my eye and I wanted to share them for you to try in your yard! 

Also introducing a new feature to my blog... PLANT OF THE MONTH.  Each month, I will feature a new plant.  This month (August), I recommend:

  FERN

Most are forest plants and prefer shaded, moist woodlands.  Some of my favorite varieties of fern are: Aborvitae Fern, Christmas Fern, Southern Shield Fern, Japanese Holly Fern and Autumn Fern, seen pictured above.  It is one of the few ferns with seasonal color variation.  New spring growth emerges a blend of copper, pink and yellow changing to brilliant green in summer and then rusty brown in autumn.  One of the best things about ferns is they continue to look lush and green throughout fall.  Some of our best family photos were taken in November in the Fern Glade at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

 And now for the rest of the GREENS:

HOSTA

Pictured is 'Guacamole'.  The bright green leaves really pop in the shady environment it prefers.

LAMB'S EAR

Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'

Groundcover of soft, thick, woolly leaves adds contrast to colorful plantings.  Likes sun to light shade.

BALD CYPRESS

Taxodium distichum

A conifer with feathery foliage that turns an orange brown in fall dropping to reveal the striking cinammon bark for winter interest.  Likes full sun and just look at how interesting these August cones are!  Pyramidal tree that grows quite large (60 feet high and 25 feet wide).  Likes wet sites.

CUBAN OREGANO

Plectranthus amboinrus

Have you seen this variegated plant  mixed in containers all over the place?  It has that "spiller" effect which contrasts nicely with purples, pinks and reds.  When you rub the leaves you get that fragrant oregano smell.  It is a tropical plant that loves partial sun and is tough! 

I hope you enjoyed the greens as much as I do.

STAY COOL and check back in SEPTEMBER for a new PLANT OF THE MONTH!

Photos courtesy of Mater Natura Designs

Check out some cool photo entries at:http://project64colors.blogspot.com/

WATER LILY

On a recent trip to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the water lillies had opened in the reflecting pool.  Floating, rounded leaves contrasted nicely with the showy blossoms against the inky, dark water.



Water Lily is the common name for Nymphaea, the botanical name.  Lotus (Nelumbo) are also in the same family (Nymphaeaceae) as water lily.



Best suited for water gardens and ponds, they like full sun and there are hardy and tropical varieties.  Tropical varieties should be used only if you are in the tropical south.  Many selections are fragrant.

Water Lily can be planted from April to August - so if you are considering adding to your water feature, remember this time frame for these aquatic plants.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATER NATURA DESIGNS

http://www.maternaturadesigns.com/

You can see my entry for Project 64 - which is a weekly photo contest

selecting a new crayon color "out of the box". Check out the cool entries at: 

 http://project64colors.blogspot.com/





COASTAL CLASSICS

Check out these coastal classics from Point Clear, Alabama:

Ol' Glory by a signature Live Oak along the shore!

Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) thrive in the climate!

Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile were stunning!

Portulaca comes in several colors, including this vibrant hot pink!

Salvia made a nice addition in this colorful border!

Sea Oats by the Sea Shore

Fruit on the Tung Oil Tree!

Yellow Blooms on Centaurea (Dusty Miller)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATER NATURA DESIGNS

http://www.maternaturadesigns.com/

You can see my entry for Project 64 - which is a weekly photo contest

selecting a new crayon color "out of the box".  Tung Oil Tree Fruit is my entry.

But, check out the cool entries at: 

 http://project64colors.blogspot.com/