November is definitely settling in here in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Zone 6a). Most of the summer flowers are gone, leaves are piling up, and plenty of perennials are heading into dormancy. But there’s still so much to appreciate. Today we’re staying close to home for a walk around my neighborhood. I walk these streets with my dog all the time, and there are a handful of gardens I always slow down to admire.
Starting off strong with this one! This prairie-inspired garden is always buzzing with pollinators in summer, and it’s one of my favorites to walk by. In fall, the large sweeps of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, Zones 4–9) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium, Zones 3–9) really come forward. And wow, those fluffy switchgrass plumes make a statement when planted en masse.
From the other side, the pinkish-copper tones of little bluestem become much more prominent. The planting even carries across the sidewalk into the curb strip, making this small garden pretty hard to miss.
A few houses down is another garden that inspires me. The whole yard is planted so elegantly, with interest no matter the season. Bare spaces are usually filled with annuals. But even in November, we still get to see roses in bloom and hydrangeas giving it their all to remain relevant. The urn in the background with the pumpkin is a nice seasonal touch.
This garden might look messy to some, but this is the kind of fall mess I truly enjoy. The hostas (Hosta cvs., Zones 3–9) spilling over the stairs, surrounded and covered by fallen red maple leaves… I love it!
This deep burgundy shrub covered in bright red berries certainly caught my eye. Unfortunately, it’s Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii, Zones 4–8), an invasive shrub here in Wisconsin. If you love the look, consider one of these native alternatives to Japanese barberry, including chokeberry, fothergilla, Virginia sweetspire, summersweet, and inkberry.
This Siberian crab apple (Malus baccata, Zones 2–7) is absolutely covered in clusters of warm orange fruit. Once so many summer flowers have disappeared, fruiting trees like this become some of the strongest color in the landscape.
I love seeing another garden extend beyond the front yard and into the curb strip. These often-overlooked spaces have so much potential. They can become a small garden, pollinator planting, or even a bee lawn.
And, of course, who can resist a strip of marigolds (Tagetes cvs., annual)? Especially when they’re still looking this good!
And one final reminder to leave the leaves this fall! Fallen leaves provide important overwintering habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, so leaving some in garden beds gives them a place to shelter until spring.
Thanks for coming along on my afternoon walk! While I wish this were a fall update from my little concrete jungle of a backyard, it’s all packed up now… because I’m moving to Georgia in just a few short weeks!! I’ll definitely miss these neighborhood gardens, but I’m excited to see what new gardens and plants catch my eye down South.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.
You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time.
Gardener’s Log Book from NYBG
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features:
· Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil
· Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds
· Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when
· Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening
· Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting
· Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.
Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
– 38 x 7 x 7 inches
– 6.9 pounds
– 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)
