Late autumn signals winter

Winter is definitely in the air, and it is falling out of the sky even as I write. Not a good day to garden but I have many household chores that have been put off all season so that will occupy my time today.

I took a trip to Great Falls last week as a few of you know and here are a couple of things I ran across. The Bighorns attacted attention just above the Blackfoot Tavern, now another business, and a number of cars pulled over to watch. I was third in line and two more pulled up as I snapped this picture. I know this is the time for ewes and rams to be together but I wasn't aware that several rams might accompany a couple of ewes as happened here. And BIG! I don't think I have ever been that close to Bighorn sheep or realized just how massive they are.

If not now or earlier, or if you missed them, the first signs of winter were evident across the mountains and prairies of western Montana as the first dusting of snow highlighted the curves and peaks of the mountain ranges that surround us.

The picture above is near Ovando, the one below is looking to the Front Range far in the distance off Highway 200.

Autumn 2010: Part 2

There are so many specatcular views around western Montana right now it would be impossible to visit them all, let alone present them here. That might be a great future project however.

But here are a few "before and after" views of some of the gardens I care for around the Missoula valley. Perhaps earlier and later would be a better phrase. The "before" pictures are from late May or early June and the "after" photos were taken last month, in October.

Mary's garden east of Arlee merits three photos, mostly because I had them. The first picture is early in May when the garden is filled with cushion spurge and dwarf red tulips. The grey Stachys, lamb's ears, is just beginning to emerge.

Mid-June found the iris, lupine and flax in full bloom, preparing the way for......the spurge and spirea on fire with golds, reds, and rusts punctuated with the blue-grey remains of the Stachys, Salvias and some of the grasses.

The Smith's garden is at the top of Linda Vista. It began three years ago as a xeriscape project, removing 25oo square feet of turf. Three years into the project it will no longer need much more than an occasional supplemental watering if a prolonged drought passes through. This fall we removed an additional 17oo square feet that will be planted next spring and mature in another couple of years. The first picture was taken mid-June of this year as the various Salvias and catmint were blooming.

Three weeks ago the Salvia was long gone but the Great Basin Wild Rye grass has taken over the panorama of the garden and combines with the extravagantly colored cushion spurge, spireas and Lo-gro Sumac to form a fall pallette with the background provided by crabapple, chokecherries and cottonwood trees.

The last two pictures are of a commercial xeric landscape on the westside of Missoula. It is intended to represent what the environmental consulting firm that occupies the building does -- restore wetlands, grasslands and forests. In June daisies, Erigeron, Yucca and tender green leaves fill the picture.

Returning for a closer view of the same area this Ocotober brings out the Rubber Rabbit Brush, native Liatris, Silver Sage and cushion spurge, now rust colored after a summer in the sun.

The contrasting views are very different, the bounty of new life and color in spring and the glorious outburst before the decline and deep sleep of winter. Both are exciting and gloriously beauful and gardeners shouldn't shy away from designing for all year round.