Today we’re paying another visit to Alice from Sweaburg in southwestern Ontario.

After quite a time of not being able to do much in the garden, things are looking up for me. These are some photos I took on October 1. In some ways, beginning of fall is my favorite time. The colors seem even nicer to me than they do in the summer. It has been very dry this year, and the voles and Asian beetles have wreaked havoc with some of the plants. The voles ate some hostas and sedums, and they died. The roses were eaten by the beetles. My autumn clematis got bitten off right at the stem; it grew back but has barely a flower. At least it is still alive. And the rabbits chewed off nearly every leaf on one hosta, but it is still alive too.

This lavender-pink sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile, Zones 3–9) is lovely and different from all the others I have. I will be splitting it in the spring to make more. What a thankful plant. The hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–8) seems to have found its happy spot. I moved it three times over the years. It has always been rather spindly, but over the last two years it has seemed to be a happy plant.

This mum (Chrysanthemum hybrid, hardiness varies by cultivar) is a survivor. I planted it as a fall mum; sometimes they live, sometimes they don’t. The lavender (Lavandula × intermedia, Zones 5–8) is flowering for the second time because I trim it down a bit after the first flowering. It makes the bees very happy at this time of year.

Lavender blooms with supporting garden players and beautiful rockwork.

I got these lovely mums from Costco. I tried planting similar ones in the garden before, but they did not live. These are in a pot.

This angel sculpture is covering a tree stump.

In this side view of the garden, sedum, blue fescue (Festuca glauca, Zones 4–8), and Annabelle hydreangea look great as fall arrives. In the foreground is threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata, Zones 3–9), which has finished flowering.

These hostas have been planted in the hopes of covering the bare bottom of this shrub. They did not disappoint, taking off like crazy. The purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, Zones 9–10 or as an annual) is a favorite of mine.

Another favorite, blue salvia (Salvia farinacea, Zones 8–10 or as an annual)

This ‘Little Bunny’ fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’, Zones 4–9) was a gift from a gardening friend.

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