Autumn In Bloom

Autumn is often called the second spring because there are so many garden flowers in bloom at this time.

- Gerald Schofield

Not only is autumn weather stable and pleasantly mild in most parts of the country, the garden is all abloom as well. Little wonder, then, that this time of the year is regarded as the second spring. While winter is fast approaching, many plants are emblazoned in a final flush of blooms before dormancy sets in. These are some of the plants to consider for turning your garden into an autumn floral spectacle.

Annuals

Many summer-flowering annuals bloom through into autumn, making a vivid display of every possible hue. As winter approaches most of these plants are replaced with winter- and spring-flowering alternatives. The lesson is to allow summer flowers to last as long as possible and not be tempted to remove and replace them too early in the cool season. Enjoy the impact of large sunflowers with their  golden blooms, zinnias in a wide array of shapes, colours and sizes, and asters are rewarding and make for excellent cut flowers. Remember to plant out these annuals in the garden in late spring or early summer in order to enjoy an autumn display. Other flowering annuals to consider for a spectacular autumn display include cosmos, salvias, torenias, browallias and portulacas.

Perennials

So many different herbaceous perennials bloom at their best in autumn, filling the landscape with drifts and swathes of colour. The real value of true perennials is that they provide consistent blooming at the same time year after year. These are but a few examples of reliable autumn flowers that last for an extended period. Gaura lindheimeri has masses of small white flowers on wiry stems. Pink and deep rose forms are also true showstoppers in the garden. Anemone hupehensis