I always have to have at least one pot of coleus to brighten the porch area. A couple of 4″ pots from the super market soon fill a good sized pot with color to rival any blossom.
Each year there’s a new batch of varieties from which to choose. The name of the big, dramatic one in back escapes me, but the one in front is ‘Aurora Black Cherry’, with a pot of basil in the foreground.
Out in the garden proper, leaves are turning and the dogwoods are producing their charming fruits.
Beauty berries are plumping up and taking on that metallic sheen.
Some of the best leaf color comes from the tree peonies and will only get better until the end.
Where once were pretty little white flowers, now dangle plump, shiny purple fruits on the Lecesteria formosa.
Here’s Hypericum inodorum ‘Asbury Purple’, sporting shiny black berries to top off the foliage that gives it its name. Other foliage fanatics will join Pam for Foliage Follow-Up just as we do every month the day after Bloom Day. Don’t be left out.
And now there is another foliage meme here, by Christina, on the habit-forming blog, Creating my own garden of the Hesperides. Check it out and expand your horizons with even more fabulous foliage.
I really should plant more Coleus. I love the colors on your un-named one. Love the berries on Leycesteria too.
Alison~Those Leycesteria berries soon turn into volunteer plants. If you ever want one, just say the word.
Your foliage is looking fantastic! I also love having a coleus or two on the back steps to brighten things up!
Peter~I’m already beginning to wonder what the coleus wizards will trot out for us next year.
Wow! Your image of the Peony foliage had my jaw dropping; it’s like an impressionist painting – so beautiful.
Christina~It was actually an accident as I learn my way around updated WordPress, but then I decided to leave it that way. Glad you like it.
I grew that same coleus this year, it’s a winner! You also have a very ornamental selection of berries.
Jason~I was pleased with that coleus. It’s always hard to decide…there are so many.
Ricki, you’re right about coleus — its leaf color really can rival any flower. I like the berries that you included too. This is the berry time of year, and the birds are filling up!
Pam~I just came from a HPSO meeting and the berries on display were amazing. More! I need more!
I’m so happy I got to see it all in person the other day! You have a beautiful garden, Rickii!
Anna~It was great fun to have a visit from you and Laura. R. commented on all the laughter. I told him that’s what happens when blogging buds get together.
I do love the beauty berries, always such an improbably colour, as if somebody had dipped them in paint as a joke!
Janet~I have seen several gardens where things like poppy pods and allium seed heads have been painted to dramatic effect. The beauty berry saves us the muss and fuss (and hunting down that metallic purple would be a challenge).