Fall Bird Garden

Recent scenes from our fall bird garden include this view of our "hummingbird gazebo," which Don built. We hang hummingbird feeders off of it in season. The hummingbirds have gone, but the hummingbird's favorite Salvia "Lady in Red," in the large pots, is still blooming. We haven't had a hard frost yet. The beautiful red foliage behind the gazebo is Staghorn Sumac. No, it's not poisonous. It's a wild plant growing behind the garden that we are just leaving, for now, and enjoying the flaming foliage.

Another winner is our Amalanchier (shadbush) "Autumn Brilliance" cultivar, living up to its name. This row of it is at the entry to our garden. It's got triple appeal, for it has beautiful white flowers in spring, followed by summer berries that the birds gobble and now this — warm orange foliage that glows like a candle.

Photos © Lillian Stokes, 2007