GARDENER'S READING ROOM
The Art of Gardening
Perennials

Fabulous Fashions for Fall!

Has your garden been a flurry of frolicsome color - up until now? Are you guilty of shopping for "instant color" in spring and summer, yet you forget to come visit us in the fall? We can spot your yard a mile away: it's the one lacking pizzazz until next spring!

E. Twilight	E. Harvest Moon

Let me entice you with some fall choices to add a fresh glow. If radiance is what you're after, go for the cones! Coneflowers, that is! Echinacea Big Sky™ Series is a breakthrough for its fragrant and unusually hued flowers. From dawn to dusk, July through September, these beauties will be at work in your garden: 'Sunrise' (lemon yellow with a golden green cone), 'Sunset' and 'Sundown', (coral petals tipped in pastel salmon), 'Twilight' (rosy coral) and 'Harvest Moon' (glowing golden). Echinacea also make excellent cut flowers.

Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' is absolutely fetching! A tall, dignified border plant, its chocolate-brown foliage (the color deepening with age) makes a striking contrast to the umbels of white, puffy flowers in August, September and October. It's very easy to grow and will thrive in just about any soil type in sun or partial shade.

Gaillardia 'Fanfare'

Fabulous is best used to describe two relatively new Gaillardias: 'Fanfare' and 'Oranges and Lemons' Free-blooming and flourishing from the warmth of spring until killing frost, they can be used in containers or borders. 'Fanfare' is compact and tidy, while 'Oranges and Lemons' is a bit more rambunctious in its habit. It is happiest tucked in with other garden friends for support, weaving its way out and about.

H.a. 'Silver Lace'

Helleborus argutifolius 'Silver Lace' is a fanciful foliage accent for all seasons with its beautiful, leathery, silver leaves with toothed edges. Pale-green flowers in late winter pair nicely with early spring bulbs and primroses in a shady area. And let's roll out the red carpet to welcome Helleborus 'Winter's Grace.' Picture 'Silver Lace' with deep rose burgundy stems and a rose edging to the flowers and you have yourself one strikingly fancy hellebore! 'Grace' will only be making a brief appearance on our tables in early September, but she will be more readily available next spring if you miss this chance.

L. 'Broadway Lights'

Fashionable Leucanthemum 'Broadway Lights' is not your run-of-the-mill Shasta daisy. This sturdy selection has glowing, pale butter-yellow flowers with blooms continuing into October. A great choice for containers or use in the landscape, it's also excellent for cutting.

Frequent shoppers have the most fascinating gardens! We'll see you soon.

By Lynn Wright
Skylights Autumn 2006 Vol. 21, No. 3

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