The Late Season Flower Border

After the brilliant display of bloom through the summer, a third wave of blooms brighten up the perennial garden. Though there is the occasional pink flower, the colors in the garden become shades of yellow, orange and purple. Mixed among these flowers are the annuals planted in the spring which, with conscientious deadheading, continue to bloom until the first frost.

Later in the season, the flowers, especially those such as sedum and black-eyed Susan are wonderful, even as the flowers fade. Their flowers become brown and rust colored seed heads which fit in perfectly with the colorful fall foliage of the surrounding trees.

Like the flowers of the midseason border, these perennials generally prefer a sunny location. The foliage of the late season perennial is attractive on its own. Because they flower so late in the season their foliage serves as a green backdrop to the rest of the flowers though the summer.

Once the blooms of these flowers fade deciding whether to cut them back or not is up to the individual. Some perennials will collapse to the ground anyways while others will remain standing though the winter with their showy seed heads creating off season interest in the garden.

Some great late season perennials include the following.

Sedum-Autumn-Joy - Very lush and dense foliage through the summer and reddish flowers which turn rust colored later in the fall. Kept through the winter, the dried flowers are quite attractive through the winter.

Aster - A daisy-like flower with a wide range of colors, among them, purples, pinks, white, yellow, oranges and magenta Chrysanthemum - Offers a wide selection of colors for the fall garden.

Black-Eyed Susan - Forms showy yellow flowers which turn to brown seed head in the fall.

Globe Thistle - A tall perennial with round, spiky blue flowers, The seed heads are worth keeping through the winter. Attracts birds.

Hosta - A versatile perennial which can thrive in many garden conditions; sun or shade, rich or poor soils. Bloom in late summer with white or purple flowers.

About the Author

R Birch is the publisher of http://www.gardenlistings.com . For information on all kinds of garden projects visit http://www.gardenlistings.com/Resources.htm