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Love Notes Lay down lover and let the leaves Trace tones of honey Orange and ruby above you. A ballet of sparkling painters Pulling you into an ocean grasp Of deep still joy. Right about now, I could use a little love note in my inbox…And Mother Nature is pulling out all the stops outside my studio window. The sky is the bluest of blue, the air is cool, not cold, the sunlight is angling to give the still green leaves their deepest hue. Everything is inviting me outside to enjoy my favorite season. Leaves tremble in the breeze, and like runners at the starting line, they are ready to go. In the coming weeks, Mother Nature will be putting on the best fireworks show of the season. From Spring’s buds to Summer’s shoots, Fall is pumpkin colored, rich, fulsome, and bursting to nourish our hearts. Like seeing your favorite artist in concert, Fall is the encore, the last set before you go home. Leaves of russet, gold, orange, and red are fluttering down to carpet lawns, streets, woodlands, and meadows. In this glorious mess, we exhale our worry and breathe in the unique moment of release. Receive this wild and glorious love note to your soul all month. Let go of perfection, feel loved in your bones, and let your inner child jump in a pile of leaves. Celebrating 10 Years of Wild Beauty - Click here to enjoy a glimpse into the past decade of building gardens. This month, I am celebrating 10 years of creating beautiful and beneficial gardens with over 250 clients over the years. I had so much fun looking back over projects and remembering being together in your garden. What began as a dream in 2015 has grown into a thriving landscape design practice, one that’s shaped gardens and built havens for rest and renewal. Over the past decade, I’ve listened to you and your land to bring your visions to life. I’ve watched saplings grow into shade trees, gardens growing stronger each spring, and families gather in spaces designed to invite joy and connection. Truly, it's been a tremendously rewarding experience, and I have learned and grown so much. Looking back, it wasn’t an easy beginning. In 2014, I was recovering from breast cancer and felt like I was starting all over again. The dream of beginning my own practice held me as I adapted to a new normal. In my early days, clients and partners encouraged me to keep growing and learning. And you still do! Through it all, I’ve held fast to the belief that beauty is a form of care, and that nature has the power to restore us. Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve invited me into your garden, shared a kind word, or simply read along each month, your support has helped this dream take root and flourish. THANK YOU!! GARDEN GUIDANCE It’s a big month for Virginia Gardeners! I have a couple of sections for you to reference for planting and care. October is prime time for planting! September is kind of false Fall, and now we are really into the Fall season. If you want to plan for a glorious Spring garden, now is the time. The soil is still warm and the air is cool, and roots settle in beautifully. As long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can plant Trees and shrubs. May I suggest adding native plants to empty areas in your garden? Adding natives provides a food for native pollinators and birds. Here is a great article about protecting our ecosystem for generations to come. Celebrating 10 Years of Planting Virginia Gardens: Would you like to include some natives, and are you bewildered by all of the options? Here are some lovely, easy-to-grow and very demure plants that will not take over your garden. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica): Perennial, Early spring blooms, attracts bees & butterflies, early nectar source! Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): Perennial, Hummingbird magnet, vibrant red/ yellow flowers, easy spreader, but so delicate. You are welcome. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana): Tree, Fragrant white flowers, evergreen foliage, a lovely structural plant. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Perennial, supports monarchs, bright orange flowers, makes me smile. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida): Tree, Virginia’s state flower, spring blooms, fall berries…love this lady. Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens): Shrub, Soft white blooms, shade-tolerant, and is great for bouquets and bees.
GARDEN CARE: Here are some ways you can care for your garden in the Fall Season. October is the official Leave the Leaves Month. Did you know…The fallen leaf layer isn't dead, it’s full of life! Wildlife like butterflies, bumble bees, fireflies, and salamanders depend on the leaf layer. When you throw out your leaves in a yard waste bag, you could be throwing away up to half of your springtime butterflies! Read more here about wildlife-friendly gardening practices. Friendly Garden Care List Divide and transplant perennials. Make more free plants! Plant native trees and shrubs. (Shameless plug) Mulch beds with fallen leaves for pollinator habitat, or use shredded hardwood mulch…snuggle in those plants but make sure that you don’t mulch around the base of the plant. Rake leaves from lawn areas and allow them to lay fallow in the garden beds. Consider these areas your “nursery” for future butterflies and lighting bugs. Here is a great article that goes in depth about soft landings. They provide a nursery for next years pollinators! “One year seed, seven years weed.” Don’t let them set seed! Some species are actually easier to thwart in late summer and fall, like these (including knotweed, ragweed, Ailanthus, bindweed, curly dock and more). Keep an eye out for fall weeds—pull them before they seed. Assess: Now and on into the later months is a great time to assess your garden’s structure. Where do you need height, texture, or winter interest? (These are the fun things I noodle on during the cold months of Winter.)
RVA IMMERSE Leaves are falling! It’s official…Fall is truly here. October is Virginia’s best season and it’s time to savor the cooler temperatures in the Garden indoors and out. Here is a fantastic seasonal garden tour offered by Lewis Ginter. Family friendly and for all ages and mobility. I was inspired by this fantastic exhibit of local women artists at Candela Gallery’s exhibit SCIENCE GIRL PARTY. I loved the stunning collaboration between Amanda Marchand and Leah Sobsey. They reimagine Emily Dickinson’s 19th-century herbarium through plant-based photographic processes, using pigments extracted from 66 species they grew themselves. It’s visual poetry!! This is a love note from a larger exhibit and is available until October 25th. Quirk Hotel is hosting a witchy event!! Make it an outing on October 25th and check out Coven and Craft for Tarot and all things spooky. If you haven’t visited the James River Park system lately, now’s the time. The canopy is starting to turn color, and the crisp air makes every step feel invigorating. I recently spent a morning there, listening to the birds and the crunch of leaves underfoot. Want to explore more? Check out Friends of the James River Park for trail maps and seasonal events. Richmond Restaurant Week is raising money for Feed More, and here is where to go from October 20-25th for delicious food. Here is an exhaustive list of Fall Activities!
NATIVE PLANT SPOTLIGHT I’m sweet on this multifunctional, happy almost anywhere shrub. Itea virginica (Sweetspire) is a graceful native shrub that shines in fall with fiery red and orange foliage. In spring, it offers fragrant white flower spikes that attract pollinators. Sweetspire thrives in moist soils and can handle shade, making it a versatile addition to woodland gardens or rain gardens. Leave the seed heads for winter interest and wildlife support. CLIENT PROJECT This month I loved creating a beautiful front and backyard Immersive Landscape Design for longtime clients. They just moved to the Fan and added a gorgeous addition. The front yard needed a serious redo and the back yard was a blank slate!! Together with fantastic partners, we created a beautiful and timeless hardscape and planting design featuring new walkways, patio, fences, irrigation, lighting, and of course gardens with a water feature. We were able to up cycle gorgeous bluestone for patios and walkways, and add outdoor rooms for entertaining, vegetable gardening, and the garden nearest the deck featured a lovely water feature. The best moment of my day was getting a text from my client as she was enjoying her backyard, sipping tea and relaxing in her new outdoor space. Joy! Many thank you to Richard Johnson of Johnson Outdoor Solutions for hardscape, Miller Irrigation for irrigation and lighting, and Tom Belden of John Richmond Landscaping for the lovely gardens.
Gardens are nature’s love notes, reminding us to care for ourselves. Please reach out if I can help you create your haven at home.
-See you in the Garden, Wendell
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