Reflection of the Season

Can it really be fall already? The growing season—and my first six months as a horticulturist at Chatfield Farms—came and went in an instant. It feels like just yesterday I was walking these garden beds for the first time, soaking in the early spring colors: bright yellow Thermopsis, rich purple Allium and cheery daffodils, all mingling in a tapestry of awakening perennials.

For my first season’s approach, I’ve been observing each bed and watching the progression unfold. Cultivated yet naturalistic-themed spaces are a journey to maintain—it’s the prairie dance, the restraint of allowing plants to grow together and support one another, and the awareness of when to gradually phase out certain species to let others shine. Eager to get into the spaces, I began with woody cleanup and raking in preparation for the herbaceous overture to come. I also thinned Allium and Tradescantia in the Water-Smart borders to reduce their grassy dominance, as well as young grass seedlings within the prairie beds, which made maintenance and new plantings much smoother in the months that followed.

As the borders grew in size and complexity, I began to understand the art of edge work—how shaping and refining those lines invites viewers into the space and helps me mentally navigate the muddled mix of species that seed off the sidewalk. Thanks to the Market Square construction, I had the opportunity to replant excavated edges with exciting new-to-me species like Monarda citriodora, Monarda punctata and Oenothera speciosa. I’m already looking forward to seeing how Echinacea, Sanguisorba, Phlox and others fill in over the coming years.

The gardens around the Earl J. Sinnamon Center—already in their teenage years—have seen tremendous growth, change, and a few overly enthusiastic self-seeders trying to take over. These spaces are a constant learning experience: observing seasonal shifts, planning thinning schedules, and creating moments of depth and invitation for visitors. I’ve learned when and how to be reactive when certain plants dominate, and to make space for others to shine.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to take more preventative steps with prolific species such as Panicum, little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Solidago rigida, Silphium laciniatum, Allium and Tradescantia, while also managing larger “chops” of Helianthus, Salvia azurea, New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and others to balance the spotlight.

I’m deeply grateful to the Chatfield Farms team for their warm welcome and support, and to Grace Johnson, assistant manager of horticulture at Chatfield Farms, for her guidance. It’s been an honor to carry the torch this season, and I’m already dreaming of next year—planning new introductions, refining horticultural practices and organizing notes to build on everything I’ve learned.

This article was contributed by Tate Erikson, horticulturist, Chatfield Farms.