What's Blooming

October and November are the months when the seasonal flower beds are changed out from summer annuals to winter hardy annuals which are ‘over-planted’ above tulips so that the spring effect is one of a multi-layered composition with complementary tulips blooming above a groundcover effect of hardy annuals. This part of the South is lucky for having winter months mild enough to allow some annuals, such as English daisy (Bellis perennis) and pansy varieties (Viola spp.), to survive the winter, and in many cases bloom throughout the winter. Merchants Square has been planted with “Maxim Marina” pansies, a pretty multi-colored blue and white variety. While there you might notice a sweet, perfumery scent of the false hollies, (Osmanthus fragrans), the evergreen, holly-like shrub at the intersection of Duke of Gloucester Street and Scotland Street.  

Walking east towards the capitol, the Blair Herb Garden would be on your left. Here you’ll find lavender (Lavendula officinalis), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) in bloom. To the right, after the Blair Garden, is the gold Bryan House, on whose eastern fence the hips of the Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) are beginning to assume their red autumn color.

One of the most interesting gardening sites in the Historic Area is the Colonial Nursery, opposite Bruton Parish Church which is a treasure trove of plants, even in fall. Not to be missed are the specimen variegated boxwood and holly, rarities in the colonies, and the beautifully textured ruscus (Ruscus aculeatus). The pomegranates (Punica granatum) are fruiting in the small meadow to the east of the colonial nursery and are approaching maturity. A late introduction, the firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) dominates a fence in the colonial garden. The dog rose (Rosa canina) is showing its characteristically bright orange-red hips that persist into winter; and the Arbutus berries (Arbutus unedo) are making their last dash to red from green as the fall begins to cool. Ask to see the Indian currant (Symphoricarpus orbiculatus), the artichokes and cardoons (Cynara scolymus & C. cardunculus), huge, edible thistle-like vegetables.

The Colonial Nursery cultivates a wide variety of colonial era vegetables. Growing in the garden now are two varieties of broccoli (Brassica oleracea), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) five varieties of kale (Brassica oleracea), two varieties of mustard (Brassica nigra, Brassica hirta), two varieties of cress (Barbarea verna), corn salad (Valerianella Locusta), three varieties of spinach (Spinacea oleracea), two varieties of endive (Cichorium endiva), four varieties of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and two varieties of pepper (Capsicum ssp.); in addition to onions (Allium cepa), leeks (Allium ampeloprasum)and parsnips (Pastinacea sativa).

Among other interesting plants are the broom corn (Panicum miliaceum), a very tall annual grass who tops were used to make brooms in the colonial era. In the vicinity of the broom corn are the castor beans (Ricinus communis), an exotic annual from Africa whose reputation is that of repelling moles and voles. Ask Don McKelvey or Wesley Greene, garden historians, to show you the blooming salt bush (Baccharis halimifolia), the odd seed pods of the devil’s claw (Probiscidea louisiancia), the startling seed cases of hearts-a-bustin’ (Euonymous americana), and the twin silver giant thistles, cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) and artichoke (Cynara scolymus).

Other very productive vegetable gardens are scattered throughout the town. On the eastern end of the town, nearest the Capitol, Wetherburn’s Tavern, King’s Arms Tavern, Shield’s Tavern and the Benjamin Powell House have very good, well maintained examples of eighteenth century kitchen gardening.

Adjacent to the Colonial Nursery, on Palace Green, take some time to notice the catalpa tree (Catalpa bignonioides) seedpods which become more obvious as the bright gold leaves begin to fall. The catalpa trees are a documented fixture in Williamsburg, having been noted by Thomas Jefferson. On the east side of Palace Green, at the rear of the Geddy silver foundry property, are located some of the largest fig trees (Ficus carica) in the Historic Area. Figs are clearly noticeable on these 10-12’ plantings that have become famous among the gardeners for their fruiting nature.

On Market Square, the evergreen majesty of the Compton Oak (Quercus xcomptoniae) becomes more apparent as deciduous trees drop their leaves. And at the Peter Hay Shop on Nicholson Street, the tall Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum) tucked into the ravine is showing its seed clusters.

The Governor’s Palace is always a tremendous undertaking when planting the seasonal floral displays. The annuals beds which are surrounded by the perennial borders at the rear of the ballroom garden cumulatively take over 2,000 annuals.  Inter-planted in the perennial beds which surround the large annual beds are planted basket-of-gold (aurinia saxatilis), cottage pinks (Dianthus plumarius) and foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), which give the perennial beds an early spring advantage while the traditional perennials catch up with the warmer weather. While at the Palace don’t miss the berries that are beginning to form on the bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) that is espaliered on the brick walls of the ballroom garden. Close by, the dogwoods (Cornus florida)are beginning to form their berries, as well and the deciduous holly or winterberry (Ilex verticillata) will also begin to show its red berries as the foliage begins to fall.  

The landscape architecture of the Governor’s Palace garden can be best appreciated in the autumn as the leaves fall, and reveal more of the brick walls which constitute garden rooms. Also, the evergreeen elements in the garden become more important. Walk down the allées of Darlington oaks (Quercus hemispaerica) that surround the Revolutionary War cemetery positioned above the terraces and canal. Observe and admire the perfect shearing of the majestic “Twelve Apostles,” the large, cylindrical plantings of yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) that dominate the ballroom garden.     

At the Wythe House the long parallel beds which flank the vista from the house to the arbor will be planted with basket of gold, China pinks (Dianthus chinensis) and columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), a perennial native to most of the East Coast of the United States, and one that will happily reseed itself in beds where it is happy. The vegetable garden of Wythe House is especially well planted, featuring a full range of herbs, vegetables and greens.

October is the month when the foliage is beginning to turn on the trees and shrubs in the Historic Area. In October especially, with the advent of cool nights, the crape myrtles, so important to summer color, will begin to turn their characteristic pink-orange, making them doubly useful in the Southern landscape.

The chrysanthemum beds at Bassett Hall are part of the renovation of the landscape around Bassett Hall in honor of the first Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., when she and her husband were most attached to the house.  Colors such as white, yellow-gold, red-bronze, orange, orange-red), bright yellow, and light bronze are part of the panoply that make up the autumn display at this gracious house. .