Celebration!

I woke to a frosty morning, an icy crust on the garden, a low brilliant sun lighting the mess that remains from Hurricane Sandy, the worst storm in local recorded history, and a heavy wet snow that fell a few days after. I thought the garden was at an end, but these photos give the lie to that. Instead, they celebrate the strong, intricate structure of the grasses and perennials at Federal Twist. The frost and light create a delicate, ephemeral landscape.

I rarely take a "how to" approach to blog posts, but it may be helpful to see how some plants weathered the storms and remain to give pleasure, so I'll name the survivors below. The empty spaces usually incidate plants there earlier in the season didn't last through the storms. I'll name some of them too, though I certainly don't suggest you avoid them.

Eupatorium perfoliatum, Sedum 'Herbstfreude' in back

Asters, stalks of Filipendula Rubra, Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerester' at back

Same plants with Sedum in front

Rudbeckia maxima added

Rudbeckia maxima

Filipendula

Filipendula, Calamagrostis

Asters, Panicum 'Dallas Blues'

Flattened plants:  Aster puniceus, day lilies, Sanguisorba, Filipendula. Standing:  Euphorbia palustris, Miscanthus purpurescens, Miscanthus 'Silberfeder', Vernonia ...

Rudbeckia maxima, Calamagrostis a. 'Karl Foerester', Filipendula, Sedum 'Herbstfreude'

Eupatorium perfoliatum (again), Panicum 'Shenandoah'

Most of the remaining plants have been identified at least once, so you're on your own.

Eupatorium perfoliatum, Bergenia, boxwood, Hydrangea quercifolia, miscanthus and Thuja occidentalis

The Hydrangea quercifolia in the next three photos turned very late, leaving this dark wine color.

Panicum 'Dallas Blues', outstanding in icy raiment.

The Filipendula and Eupatorium atropurpureum will retain dried flowers and leaves in most winters. But the extraordinarily violent winds of Sandy left only the upright structure.

This view of the house explains the reason for a naturalistic garden.

The boxwood and Thuja evergreens add more than just color interest in winter. They make an important contribution to structure. I plan to add more.

The large empty area is home to a community of Filipendula rubra 'Venusta', a source of pleasure from late spring, usually well into winter. It's weight even took down patches of Joe Pye Weed, as well as asters and sanguisorbas.

Pycnanthemum muticum

Salix sachalinensis 'Sekka' pruned high to reveal sculptural trunks

Miscanthus 'Silberfeder', Pycnanthemum muticum

Andropogon virginicus, Sedum

Vernonia, Panicum 'Dallas Blues', Silphium terebenthinaceum, Pycnantheum muticum, Miscanthus 'Silberfeder' across the back, Inula racemosa 'Sonnenspeer', Aster tartaricus in front

Miscanthus giganteus (the big one)

At risk of boring some, I want to add many more miscanthus next year. It can't be beat as a ruthless ground cover, and it lasts through all kinds of weather. I do want to introduce more named cultivars. I have only two Ferner osten, which has extraordinary autumn color and a well controlled form.

Marc Rosenquist's sculpture, Pay Dirt, looks great with the forest trees.

Time: about 8:30 in the morning.