Autumn Flowers

When we think of fall, many of us instantly think that it signals the end of the flower season. However, there are many varieties of flowers that will bloom right into winter (and some even throughout.)

The obvious flower choices that come to mind for autumnal planting are mums, sunflowers and alliums (otherwise known as onions and garlic.) This blend of yellows, oranges, reds and purples sets off a fiery display to showcase what the trees around them are doing. And all of these choices are certainly welcome to replace some of the spring plantings that may have gone the wayside during the summer, but they are not your only alternatives. Many of the summer blooming flowers planted, or in our case that reseeded from the previous year or years, will continue producing blooms well into the fall, and some even after a few frosts. Cosmos, roses and daisies come to mind, but even petunias, lobelia and alyssum will still be in bloom as long as they aren’t allowed to go to seed. Now is also a good time to be on the lookout for winter pansies at your local nursery.

While we think of autumn as a time of plants dying off for the winter, many plants will continue to thrive if given the chance. By chance, I mean water. A common mistake many gardeners make is not watering their flowers in the winter. While it is true, there are a few varieties that don’t require much water, a lot of them still do. The cold air dries out the leaves of fall and winter flowers about as fast as a hot day in summer causes them to wilt, so keeping your plants well watered will ensure a profusion of blooms. A little fertilizer and/or compost every now and then won’t hurt either.