October 2010 - The Bulletin Magazine

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in the garden Late Blooming Perennials by Jeannie Nicolaou Many people are saddened by fall because warm weather and vacations are over and it’s back to school and work. Bright, flourishing gardens with vibrant reds, purples, yellows, whites, and oranges seem to be at an end, leaving only greens and browns for fall and winter. However, while work and school are inevitable in autumn, colourless and boring gardens are definitely not! If lively and interesting gardens are possible this time of year, why don’t we see them more often? Perhaps it’s because nurseries tend to wow throngs of spring shoppers with high impact spring-blooming plants. At that point, late blooming perennials may offer little promise: they are slow to start, and have no blooms to catch people’s attention. It’s a leap of faith to buy them in spring, but late bloomers will give many years of enjoyment just when you think the fun and beauty are over. For those with forethought, fall can become the best season in the garden. If you have come to the realization that your garden lacks bloom in fall, right now is also a great time to plan and plant a display of late blooming perennials. Perennials that wait to burst open until late summer or fall may test our patience but they reward us with glorious jewel tones of deep purple, rust, scarlet and gold. Asters and chrysanthemums are readily available. Today they are retailed like annuals, sold in late summer to customers to make autumn vignettes with plump pumpkins. They can be interchanged for spring-planted annuals that have begun to droop. There are so many extraordinary perennials that should not be missed. To make my top-ten list, a plant must have long blooming times, be tough and require low maintenance, and are usually drought tolerant. Many of the following long-bloomers burst out in summer and continue into fall. Including them in your plan can help to ensure continuity of colour and plenty of butterflies and birds. Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium) is a great moisture loving perennial. E. maculatum ‘Atropurpureum’ can reach a stately six feet or more. Consider the five foot variety, ‘Chocolate’ (which actually does smell like chocolate), or the more manageable four foot ‘Little Joe.’ A garden should not be complete without ornamental grasses that peak in autumn. Their flowing blooms sway in the breeze, taking on lovely shades of gold, orange and red. Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ turns a beautiful red in late summer. Pennisetum has soft bottlebrush-like flowers that you’ll want to caress. To complete the picture, add tall Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’, a mainstay in many gardens. It’s as tough as nails and gives several seasons of interest. In September, the blooms turn burgundy and then fade slowly but continue to provide Toad Lily winter interest. You can get more blooms and strengthen the stalks of Sedum and certain tall late bloomers if you cut back the first buds in July. For shady spots, try beautiful Japanese anemones (Anemone hupehensis). They have a profusion of cheery white, pink or purple flowers on wiry stems. Another perennial for part shade is the unusual flower of the toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta). In September, its spotted flowers are small but numerous. Site them in a spot where you can appreciate their delicate nature. A wonderful low maintenance plant is the perennial Geranium. There are a few long blooming varieties, such as ‘Rozanne’, ‘Jolly Bee’, and ‘Pink Penny.’ Blue-violet or pink blooms start in June and keep going until the frost flies, with no deadheading 10 The Bulletin | October 2010 www.thebulletinmagazine.com
(removal of spent blooms) required. The steel blue flowers of Russian Sage (Perovskia) glow in late summer. You can’t beat the bold gold of Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’) or the rich purple pink of Purple coneflower (Echinacea ‘Sunset’ or ‘Ruby Star’). All of these can bloom for up to two months. Some plants, such as butterfly bush (Buddleia) and blanket flower (Gaillardia), require deadheading to extend their blooming period, but are worth the trouble. A nursery visit in September or October provides a taste of the wonders of fall gardening. Look for strong plants and good sale prices. Late blooming perennials are not only tough plants, but those with magical jewel tones can make a dramatic statement. Whether you choose dramatic plants like ornamental grasses or demure ones like Turtlehead (Chelone obliqua), perennials can give more than you ever imagined possible in a fall garden. Lake Simcoe South Master Gardeners provide free gardening advice. Send your questions to our gardening hotline at lssmaster gardeners@gmail.com www.thebulletinmagazine.com October 2010 | The Bulletin 11
Page 1 and 2: www.TheBulletinMagazine.com THE Bul
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS IN EACH ISSUE 6 WHAT’S O
Page 5 and 6: www.thebulletinmagazine.com October
Page 7 and 8: Saturday, October 23 & November 20
Page 9: Happy Thanksgiving Free Gardening A
Page 13 and 14: IN THE KITCHEN with Moira Sanders I
Page 15 and 16: is required at town hall. Initially
Page 17 and 18: Each community deserves a voice and
Page 19 and 20: MARLENE JOHNSTON: seeking position
Page 21 and 22: KATHARINE PARSONS: seeking position
Page 23 and 24: less-populated areas with fewer vot
Page 25 and 26: Tax Tips Death and Taxes by Ian Haw
Page 27 and 28: formed relationships with the York
Page 29 and 30: MOTORCYCLE, ATV & SLED SALES & SERV
Page 31 and 32: efore THERE ARE 4 PARTS TO MY PHILO
Page 33 and 34: Chief for a Day Thomas Hill (pictur
Page 35 and 36: WHY WARDS? submitted by James Sulli
Page 37 and 38: Homework Connection General Contrac

October 2010 - The Bulletin Magazine

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