You're running late as you know, but perhaps not so for rutabaga, kale and collards, which grow faster in fall weather. You're not supposed to be able to transplant rutabaga but I do it often, when the seedlings just show their first true leaf. Chinese cabbage is good to grow from seeds sown now, and you can set out lettuce and spinach under shade covers to get them going on time. Good luck, there is still opportunity to grow lots of good stuff. Frost is not the only factor of fall. Nights are already getting longer, which naturally makes them cooler. There will come a time late in August when the soil will lose its heat and light intensity will fall off, too. Those last weeks before your first frost aren't good growing weather, but they are great "holding" weather for whatever you manage to get planted on time.

plse tell us what are those striking looking red headed grasses beyond this bed?are they really red?and where are you?- that's always helpful to have in your i.d. so we can give (and get) the best advice from you! I like the suggestions for foliage color rather than flowers.Grasses and small shrubs would be great for giving you some rounded solid masses and vertical spikes w/height. some ideas: daphne carol mackie barberry- ppl helmond's pillar. ------------- blue lyme grass(plant in pot to keep from roaming) helichtrotrichon oat grass short zebra grass miscanthus variega. annual ppl fountain grass- pennisetum pennisdetum moudry- black fuzzy seed heads ------------------ amsonia hubrechtii- airy/ferny- turns wonderful gold in fall; would be great abutting the asters stachys - the non flowering one- as an edger ppl perilla- large deep ppl leaves variegated iris- good wide bold varieg spikes eupatorium chocolate p.s. how 'bout growing some lovely clematis over that stone wall? and edging the wall w/ lavender which loves hot hot full sun reflected heat? best, mindy www.cottonarboretum.com/

I'm covering my ears. I can't hear you. Don't want to know anything about Pipevines!!! Arghhhh!!! There was a Pipevine Swallowtail explosion at the ranch back in late February. All those little darlings that were overwintering came out in full force. There have been so many caterpillars it is unreal. Every time I drive out there I now see chrysalids on the barbed wire strands, the fence posts, tree limbs, the windmill, the deer blinds - everywhere!!! And to think those will soon emerge and the cycle continues. Yep, have seen lots of butterfly porn out there too :o) I know they are using a native aristolochia erecta as a food source ...but everytime I find the plant it is being eaten to the ground by caterpillars. Am wondering if there is some other larval host plant they use...doesn't seem like there'd be enough to feed them all. Have been on a quest to grow aristolochia fimbriata and transplant it there. The caterpillars I raised love that stuff. ~ Cat

Hello again, How did you ever give up subtropical temps to move to NE? I think you may need to lighten your clay soil a bit, but since you already have stuff in the ground, you will know soon enough. Sometimes the bulbs around here don't come up because the squirrels and other creatures eat them during the winter months. Some gardeners go to great lengths to prevent this from happening. My mom swears her neighborhood squirrels were on the look out when I was planting and they'll be digging them when no one is looking! Different type bulbs require differing depths. I would follow directions for whatever you are planting regardless of the the temp of the soil. You are not alone liking goldenrod. Around my way, most of us yank them as weeds but others actually plant it, so its all in the eye of the beholder, I guess. Pesky weeds seem to be so hardy! Mulch may help limit the weeds, but if your soil is so much clay, you probably don't want to mulch. I would suggest soil analysis or start another post regarding clay soil. I have learned from some very knowledgable gardeners here on GW - very generous with their expertise. Good luck and welcome to NE. Sorry this has been such a harsh winter. Susan