Want to open by saying that our thoughts are with all of our readers 

who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. This enormous storm brought devastation to many communities and we hope that the road ahead will 

not seem insurmountable. 

SOMETHING ELSE TO DO IN NEW ENGLAND

If you are among the ultimate watchers of the amazing turning
of the autumn leaves who travel for the pleasure,  then you might be soon visiting New England.
If so – head straight to Salem, Massachusetts
and the Peabody Essex Museum.

There you will find the divine
Stephen Jones who has been my favorite milliner since I carried his marvelous chapeaux in my Dianne B. stores in the 80’s.
I’ve seen this show
(he curated, and there are many great hats) –
it is excessively stylish…
and funny too.

Bet you never knew where the word "milliner" came from, did you?

MY AFFECTION for WHITE VARIEGATES

...increases by leaps and bounds at summer’s end and during
these weeks while the leaves begin to turn.
It seems the variegation is at its richest…

 Caladium Aaron at its peak.

 This gorgeous Euphorbia is aptly called ‘Glacier Blue’ and
for me seems much hardier and more dependable than the
trying-to-be-popular ‘Tasmanian Tiger', which looks great at
nurseries and in catalogues, but hasn’t survived for me
after many tries.
E. ‘Glacier Blue’ from Forestfarm – who else?

This time of year is when the historical old
Iris pallida ‘Variegata looks its finest too.

And what is there to say about
Colocasia Nancy’s Revenge?
This giant elephant's ear

takes patience  – the white central markings don’t begin to
appear until mid-August -
but -  then  - it is spectacular.

As is this Fatsia - stongly marked with one just-emerged,
gorgeous, all-white leaf tucked behind
Adam Kurtzman’s bronze hand.

More wonders from LandCraft HOT Plants.

 Apocalypha  -  a real tropical.
Not only a white picotee edge, but a scalloped white picotee edge.

Aralia elata Silver Umbrellas dies down to
a stick of a trunk in winter...
but look at it now.
I got this one from Broken Arrow in 2008.
It's a good thing too, because now I think they are condemned?
I read that they are dangerously invasive, but it seems to me
if you keep after the runners -
no problem - only beauty

And to veer off the white track for one moment …this melange of
green and gold is definitely inspired…

Pinus densiflora ‘Oculis Draconis’
(quite a big title for this Tiger’s Eye pine which had withstood
much maltreatment as I moved it from spot to spot until it arrived
at this one in hospitable full-sun)
underplanted with Farfugium  ‘Crested Leopard’
and the best  gold ground cover (even better than Lysimachia nummularia ) is Sedum ‘Angelina”.

It makes me proud.
And certainly reinforces gardening as my singular favorite therapy.