What's Blooming

September brings with it the more robust of the heat tolerant plants that are routinely used at Colonial Williamsburg for summer color. The most apparent motif in the Historic Area at this time of the year are the crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica), the medium sized, multi-stemmed small trees that dot the landscape. Although late 18th century introductions, no Southern landscape is complete without them. They are available in a range of colors from white to pink to purple. Another prominent shrub blooming at this time of year are the favorite rose of Sharons (Hibiscus syriaca), which can be observed blooming in shades of white, pink, red, and in some cases blue, and in single and double forms. These are the shrubs of so many of our grandmothers.

The Governor’s Palace always offers the flower-curious visitor vestiges of summer color. The perennial beds that outline the center annual beds still bear a multitude of summer phlox (Phlox paniculata), and bits of obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana). The annual beds are planted in heirloom mixture of colors of the globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa), a plant known to have been grown by John Custis in Williamsburg ca. 1735. The permutations of saturated purple, soft pink and dusky white offer a rippling pattern of color in these traditional formal beds.

The boxwood garden to the west of the ballroom is planted in a two-toned, yellow and pink, lantana (Lantana ‘Confetti’), whose soft colors and naturally floppy habit give this garden a sense of serenity. Lantana is naturally heat resistant and this planting is one of the more effortless in the Historic Area while still providing near constant color during the non-frost seasons. To the east of the Palace itself, in the holly garden, balsam (Impatiens balsamina) has been installed because of the heavy shade on this side of the building. Balsam of this kind can often reach 4 feet tall and have stems more than 2 inches diameter. Their tendency to seed widely and profusely can be troublesome, but they are stout in the heat and floriferous throughout the hot growing year in Williamsburg. 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 are beginning to form their berries, as well.      

The Colonial Nursery, opposite Bruton Parish Church, is a treasure trove of plants, even in September. Expect to see the newly planted snapdragons, calendula and china pinks around the cistern and a wide collection of winter vegetables: purple top turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, parsnips, mustard, kale, spinach as well as salsify and an errant late fruiting artichoke. Among the perennials still in bloom at the Colonial Nursery are a tall rudbeckia (Rudbeckia lancinata), the very tall ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), and the yellow flower silphiums, or rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus). The Colonial Garden offers the visitor the opportunity to see unusual plants such as the unicorn plant (Probiscidea louisianca), which bears a distinctive seed pod that has been compared to a ‘devil’s claw.’ The strawberry tree, or Arbutus (Arbutus unedo) is bearing both its distinctive strawberry-like fruits and its flowers at the same time. The Arbutus is a tree known to the ancient Greeks and figures prominently in ancient Greek poetry. The rose hips of the dog rose (Rosa canina) are very large and throughout September will turn a bright orange.  Look for the very curious early heirloom tomatoes which are grown on a twig armature, enabling the tomato’s real nature as a rambling vine like plant. In pots near the cistern are very tall, white flowered bulbs, the tuberoses (Polyanthus tuberosa). Historical research has shown these to have been grown by John Custis of Williamsburg in the early 18th century and it is likely that Mr. Custis stored these non-hardy bulbs in the basement of his house called Six Chimneys which originally stood on Francis Street.  Two additional perennials should be of interest to visitors, the late blooming goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) and Helen’s flower (Helenium autumnale). And don’t miss the bright silvery seedlings of the horned poppy (Glaucium flavum) that have popped up along one garden path of this garden of many delights.

The Lewis House Garden is a trial garden wherein many different crops are grown out in the field to test their durability and floral impact. It is located on Queen Street opposite to the entrance lane to the Williamsburg Inn. Perhaps the most conspicuous plant during September will be the central element, the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), an African small tree that is the source of castor bean oil. It is trained up into a small tree and provides some shade for the masses of nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) planted at its base. Behind the castor bean plant is the very tall kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate (Polygonum orientale), a tropical knotweed of Herculean dimensions. It’s pendant red flowers provide a dramatic backdrop to the large palmate leaves of the castor bean plant in front of it. Adding to this tropical element in this colonial garden are the two large clumps of canna lily, or Indian shot (Canna indica). These are species cannas and don’t bear the overbred habit of their modern cousins. These cannas bloom at roughly seven to eight feet and bear a more elegant, less elaborate flower than modern cultivars. And in several spots in the garden try to spot the Pentapetes (Pentapetes phoenicia), a tall plant with elaborately serrated leaves and scarlet flowers.

The fences in the Lewis Garden are used to great advantage. Upon them are draped an array of vines: the cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) from the West Indies bearing scarlet tubular flowers; the balsam apple and balsam pear (Momordica charantica & M. Balsamina), tropical vines bearing yellow flowers and very distinctive fruits; the passionflower (Passiflora incarnata); and the yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens ‘John Clayton’. 

A collection of perennials that have survived the heat include the black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), a taller multiheaded small rudbeckia with small flowers (Rudbeckia triloba) Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum), and garden phlox (phlox paniculata). And in pockets around the garden traditional annuals such as four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa), scabious (Scabiosa atropurpurea), red celosia (Celosia cristata) and hormium sage (Salvia viridis) will provide color until the first frosty nights.