Of course we have to start out by saying that Cottage Gardens of Petaluma is always a delightful place to visit every season of the year, and fall is no exception! We've got a heatwave going on today, but misters are on and the flowers are blooming and everything still looks absolutely amazing! We're still full of amazing perennials, shrubs, fruit trees and the ornamental grasses are positively glowing right now....and OMG, the fall veggies we have for you are just fantastic! Brassicas, onion starts, peas and so much more and then don't even get me started on the garlic! More than a dozen tasty varieties for your garden this year! We just got a brand new delivery of fountains and another of our favorite trellises, topiary and arbors from artisan trellis!

October is a wonderful, transitional month. Summer burned bold and bright, and now everything begins to slow down. Days are shorter, mornings hold a new briskness, and the light coming in the windows is noticeably golden. The fiery fall foliage of fall begins to emerge, along with the slowing down but still abundant harvests of tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, corn!

But, let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

It IS still warm though - especially this week, yet there are still flowers everywhere! Particularly amazing are the clematis that are gracing us yet again with a whole big show of stunning blooms! rsist. As we inevitably turn the corner into fall, though, what can you expect to see growing and for sale at the nursery?

Fall in the veggie area is always a highlight. The seed garlic has arrived plus It's prime time to plant beloved brassicas, such as cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and more. Plus, peas, fava beans, escarole, radicchio, and onions are all timely starts to get in the ground. All of these delicious vegetables appreciate being planted now, when the soil is still warm and there's plenty of sunlight. As the seasons really begin to shift, they'll mature and the cooler weather will even intensify the flavor. Don't think that your vegetable garden has to lay empty until next spring, there's so much to grow and enjoy in the so-called off season! Check out what's in stock! We update our veggie webpage every single day and you can find our vegetables & herbs right here!

Speaking of peas, there's a very exciting, colorful, incredibly fragrant (NOT edible) relative that always makes it debut in autumn! Sweet peas!
Sweet peas are some of the most anticipated starts that we grow here. Just as the season is winding down, they appear as the first sign: It's time to plan ahead for next year! Can you believe it?!
Plant your sweet pea seeds or starts now, in the fall or early winter, to get a headstart on early spring blooms. We'll be planting them all around the nursery very soon, and they'll be the first explosion of color and fragrance to appear after the quiet of winter. We have them in 6packs or in individual 4" pots if you're lookng for a specific color - and of course we also have seeds for you too if you'd prefer to start them yourself!

It's been a really awesome time for houseplants. The store is full of rare beauties! Including Monstera deliciosa 'Thai Constellation' from 4" babies to an unbelievable giant, all splashed with swirls and splotches of creamy white variegation and magically fenestrated leaves. Striking cymbidium orchids and brilliant bromeliads have been circulating through the store as well. We've made some YouTube videos on these epic plants, check them all out here or click the linked plants above for information on those specifically!!

As always, even if you're not thinking of adding to your landscape right now, we love it when you drop by to say hi, and invite you to come and enjoy a deep breath, all of the beauty (the butterflies, honeybees, hummingbirds...) and grab yourself a moment of peace at our little slice of paradise here in Sonoma County.