As the sun sinks a little lower in the sky in autumn ornamental grasses shift from filler to glowing star of the border. For ideas on using these textural plants read Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design by Nancy Ondra (Storey Books, 2002). The large color pictures inspire, while the detailed lists of “great grasses for every need” help gardeners choose the best grass for any situation. Two grasses Ondra recommends for fall color are Japanese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘November Sunset’) and Frost Grass (Spodiopogon sibiricus).
For a primer on growing ornamental grasses online go to the University of Illinois
A who’s who of experts collaborated on “Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening with California Monocots.” You ask, is nothing safe from invading Californians? Perhaps not, but many of these showy plants already have Pacific Northwest residency. Our collection includes this title and others from the Golden State with relevancy for our part of the coast.