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Ahna's Garden

Writer's picture: Busara FirestoneBusara Firestone

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

I recently had the pleasure of visiting our dear clients, Ahna Serendren, Brad Morrey, and daughter, Eleanora at their Menlo Park home. Ahna is a fellow plant enthusiast, and I was eager to see the progress of her garden and ADU. The ADU, a testament to their family's craftsmanship, was built by Ahna's father, a skilled carpenter. They even milled the beautiful redwood siding themselves from recycled lumber—a true DIY accomplishment.



I had the privilege of working with Ahna a couple of years ago on a tree report and was captivated by her collection of rare perennials. As a talented painter, she has an eye for creating unique and artistic plant palettes. Each visit to her garden is a source of inspiration, and this time was no exception.



This blog post showcases the rich and magical hues of her late summer and fall garden. It's a time when the garden truly shines, with plants boasting interesting seed heads even after the flowers have faded. These seed heads not only add visual interest but also provide a vital food source for wildlife when resources are scarce. The autumnal colors evoke a sense of timelessness and nostalgia, reminding us of the beauty and resilience of nature.


Here are some plants we suggest you plant now (or in the early spring) if you want to add dazzle to your garden beds in the later summer and early autumn: 


Annuals & Biennials:

Sunflowers

Amaranth

Cosmos

Zinnia

Queen Anne's lace

Mullein

Artichoke

Queen Anne's lace, Daucus carota
Mullein, Verbascum bombyciferum

Artichoke blossom
Dahlia and sunflower make a jewel-colored display

Perennials (in SF Bay Area):

Rudbeckia

Dahlias

Coreopsis

California buckwheat

Autumn sage

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Family Jewels

Lesser catmint 

Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'

Black eyed susan, Rudbeckia
Silvery dudleyas shine in artistically mixed sideyard pathway planting

Tall perennials glow in this mixed border

Shrubs:

Repeat-bloom roses

Oakleaf hydrangea (for fall color)

Rose of Sharon

Fun structural plants such as king protea and succulents mix with unusual vines and roses

Grasses:

Miscanthus

Pennisetum

Lomandra

Wine-colored Coreopsis in foreground, Family Jewels Plant staked to the left, with glowing Maiden grass (Miscanthus)

Trees:

Cherry

Chinese pistache

Ginkgo 'Autumn Gold'

 

For more inspiration, check out our late summer plants video:



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