I’m pleased to see mushrooms growing on the uprooted remains of the Bigleaf magnolia (below). My wife must stop to photograph every interesting mushroom we pass on our forest hikes. My joy is that the exposed roots are holding enough moisture to support the mushrooms, but also ferns I’ve planted between roots.

I don’t expect the mushrooms to last for long, but hope that the small ferns will grow to hold the soil in place. There’s no shortage of ferns in the garden, but this adds to the stumpery that is densely planted with ferns and hostas.

The stumpery is in the shaded side garden where many repeat blooming Encore azaleas are planted. Years ago, I planted Encores to evaluate which of the azaleas flowered best in spring and autumn. I became aware that the area was a bit too shaded for best flowering, but I enjoy the blooms, particularly in autumn. Today, I’m more interested in fragrant and often brightly colored deciduous azaleas, but these require even more sun.

The pink flowered Encore Autumn Carnation (below) planted along the sunnier driveway garden (the other side garden) is flowering splendidly after a year of unexplained struggle and sparse flowering. For years this was the the most consistent to flower in autumn, but with a color I disliked. My displeasure was noted by the very pleasant in-house sales rep who toured us through the azalea nursery in Loxley, Alabama as I toured every summer. With pleasure, she noted Carnation’s abundant blooms as we drove past. I responded by muttering in fake disgust, to her further delight. My tune changed after she passed away as I fondly recall our friendly interactions.

I don’t know if I’ve missed them in recent years, but in this second week of October I note the first flowering of two cold hardy impatiens varieties (Impatiens omeiana, below). I’m happy to grow both for their foliage, but an occasional flower is nice too, even if it will last a short time before cold spoils the bloom.