30 Kinds of Dead
Cool Dead. Alum, well past it’s “prime,” and no reason for a trip to the compost bin.
Is there a good dead vs bad dead? Like the Seinfeld episode exploring good naked and bad naked, I had to take some time and consider it. With a quarter acre of yarden, I have plenty of opportunity to ponder the question of deadness, and over the years what is acceptably dead and lives to see another day vs what should immediately be yanked has changed.
See below for my pictorial Momento Mori with captions of the many versions of “Dead” available in the garden this time of year.
©Theresa Elliott, All Rights Reserved
Quirky Dead
Crocosmia seed pods.
Cascading Dead
Hydrangea spilling over the rockery.
So Done, Dead
Hosta that gave up the ghost.
Not Quite Dead
Bachelor Buttons phasing out.
Glorious Dead
Lovely and therefore left un-raked. Japanese Maple.
We Love Being Dead, Dead
Lime light hydrangea spires soar high above the smaller constellation encircling them below. Everyone gets to stay.
Messy Dead
Lilac leaves commingled with crocosmia.
Over It, Dead
Once beautiful Peony,but not anymore. I like to leave them until the stems dry into sticks. Then when I cut them down for the winter and leave 2-3 inches so I know where they are as I move things around the during the winter.
Always Pretty Dead
Autumn Joy Sedum.
Not Sure What to Do, Dead
The golden brown hosta still makes a great backdrop for the hucchera despite its ratty appearance.
Hilarious Dead
Like the peony, I leave the hosta stalks to help me identify location during the winter months and the game of checkers that goes on. It also seems to help ward off bunnies in the spring making it harder for them to get at tender, new shoots.
Was So Beautiful a Week Ago, Dead
Hosta and Loropetalum. Rain sure makes a mess of dead hosta.
Surrendered Dead
Autumn joy Sedum. This soldier just gave up.
Sleeping Dead
My favorite. Contorted Filbert losing it’s leaves, one of many trees I enjoy more when their leaves have fallen. Below it are Southern Comfort Hucchera.
Mixed Feelings Dead
Hellebore swimming under beautiful maple leafs.
Smothering Dead
Dogwood leaves trying to dead hearty cyclamen.
Not Yet Dead
Rose bud.
Seriously, Not Dead?
Variegated Brugmansia still blooming.
Should So Be Dead
Cyclamen submerged in water in a pot with no drainage hole. Literally smells like a swamp.
Beautiful and Not Remotely Dead
Moonlight Chinese Fairy Bells.
We All Be Dead Soon, Dead
Annual ornamental Cabbage
Bi-Deadal, aka Non-Evergreen Perennial
Japanese Forrest grass. As beautiful in the fall as in the summer. I wait until it turns to mush before I cut it down.
No Intention of Being, Dead
Zig Zag camellia, Persian Chocolate lysmachia, carex.
Someone Tried to Make You Dead
Hucchera apparently acting as someone’s salad.
Ops, Dead
How did I kill the maiden hair fern?
Can’t Make Up Our Mind About Being Dead, Dead.
Only one half the Lion’s Mane Japanese Maple has lost it leaves.
What Do You Mean, Dead?
Bellarina Primroses having nothing to do with it.
Been Dead a Long Time
What Took You So Long to Find Us, Dead
Old branches pulled from the shrubs.
Between the Sidewalk Cracks Dead
Tomato plant, compliments of Starbucks.
When Are You Going to Deal With Us, Dead.
Two stumps waiting for a good toss down the hill in front. I’ll make a video of it when I roll them over.
Hahaha No Way, I’m Blooming Now
After Not Blooming All Summer, Dead
Abutilon Pictum, “Thompsonii Yellow.”
Never Say Die
Buddha with trailing Rosemary.