What's Blooming: October
PomegranateIn October and November, seasonal flower beds change from summer annuals to winter-hardy annuals which are over-planted above tulips. In the spring, the effect is one of a multi-layered composition with tulips blooming above a groundcover of hardy annuals.
This part of the South is lucky to have winter months mild enough to allow some annuals, such as English daisy (Bellis perennis) and pansy varieties (Viola spp.), to survive the winter, and in many cases bloom throughout the winter.
Giant sunflowerThe pomegranates (Punica granatum) are fruiting in the small meadow to the east of the colonial nursery and are approaching maturity.
The 
Arbutus berries (Arbutus unedo) are making their last dash to red from green as the fall begins to cool. Ask to see the Indian currant (Symphoricarpus orbiculatus), the artichokes and cardoons (Cynara scolymus & C. cardunculus), huge, edible thistle-like vegetables.
The purple berries on the American beauty berry (Callicarpa americana) are making a great show now and should hang on well into October. By the middle of November, the Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus) will be in bloom and often lasts into the first of December.
Adjacent to the Colonial Nursery, on Palace Green, take some time to notice the catalpa tree (Catalpa bignonioides) seedpods which become more obvious as the bright gold leaves begin to fall. The catalpa trees are a documented fixture in Williamsburg, having been noted by Thomas Jefferson.
FoxglovesOn Market Square, the evergreen majesty of the Compton Oak (Quercus comptoniae) becomes more apparent as deciduous trees drop their leaves. At the Peter Hay Shop on Nicholson Street, the tall Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum) tucked into the ravine is showing its seed clusters.
The Governor’s Palace is always a tremendous undertaking when planting the seasonal floral displays. The annual beds at the rear of the ballroom garden cumulatively take over 2,000 annuals.
The perennial beds, which surround the large annual beds, will be planted basket-of-gold (aurinia saxatilis), cottage pinks (Dianthus plumarius) and foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), which give the perennial beds an early spring advantage while the traditional perennials catch up with the warmer weather.
Colonial Williamsburg’s garden historians use "A Treatise on Gardening by A Citizen of Virginia" as their guide when planting the Colonial Garden interpretive site. It was written by John Randolph, the last royal Attorney General of the colony of Virginia. Published in 1793, the treatise contains Mr. Randolph’s observations of his Williamsburg garden from 1765 to 1770 and is basically a garden calendar. Mr. Randolph’s treatise can be purchased at two of Colonial Williamsburg’s shops: The Print Shop and The Colonial Garden and Nursery.
Regarding flowers, I recommend consulting The Mid-Atlantic Gardener’s Guide by Andre and Mark Viette and Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: How to Identify 200 of Colonial America's Flowers, Herbs, and Trees by Joan Parry Dutton. Whereas Mr. Viette’s book discusses how to grow the flowers seasonally, Ms. Dutton’s book identifies and gives historical information on 18th-century flowers.
Other books on growing seasonal vegetables that you may find helpful are "Kitchen Gardens – Beyond the Vegetable Patch" by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and "The New Kitchen Garden" by Anna Pavord.
For more Colonial Williamsburg gardening resources, check the shop section of this blog.
Dear CW:
Are there any good books or guides that cover 18th-century seasonal growing of flowers and vegetables in the Tidewater? I'd like to plant a winter garden if there's still time, and continue it into next year.
Most of the books I've found make it difficult to grasp what can/should be planted and when. A clear schedule would be really beneficial. I'm looking forward to starting a small heirloom garden!
Thanks!
-Sean
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