“The season is short!”  is a lament heard from many a gardener in this Zone Three neck of the woods. Those living in the Yukon have every reason to differ but I too like to take issue with that statement.

As well as the many Fall Fairs and Pumpkin Celebrations , your own garden should be a treasure at this time of year. For those reading this in the East Kootenay, Top Crop has their Big(in every sense of the word) Pumpkin Day this Saturday September 30th 2023 – Pumpkin weigh in , Fundraisers and more. Fun and inspiration for your next year’s garden.

After years of experimenting, I have discovered it is possible to have plants blooming in your garden from March until early November, but planning is important.  Gardeners tend to go on a big buying binge in the Spring but I think that money would be better divided between Spring and Fall.  Many gardeners neglect the greenhouses in August and September which is a mistake.  Drifting through the rows of plants at this time will give you great ideas for Fall colour in the garden.  Because plants don’t sell as well in the Fall, greenhouses don’t have such a large stock or selection, but there is still reason to go more often at this time of year to see what is in bloom and what is new.  Plants will often bloom earlier than normal when confined in a small pot and the non-descriptive plant you passed by in May, will be showing its true colour by August or September.  Fall is also the time to plan for spring colour.  As I wrote in the last two posts, bulbs and early flowering plants need to be planted in September and October.

below: ‘Clara Curtis’ Chrysanthemum

I have many favourites for fall colour.  Michaelmas Daisies (named because they bloom around the Feast of St. Michael on September 29^th) or Fall Asters top the list. There are many varieties and they will bloom the first year from seed so it is worth a try.   Look for forms of Aster amellus, Aster nova-angliae(New England Aster), Aster novi-belgii(New York Aster) and Dumosus Hybrids.   Some named cultivars are ‘Harrington’s Pink’, ‘Marie Ballard’, ‘Orlando’, ‘Audrey’ and ‘Lady in Blue’.  If you like Monkshood, look for The Autumn flowering variety.  Globe Thistles (Echinops)have steely blue spheres that rise up above the border and hold much of their colour until frost.  Sea Holly(Eryngium planum) has a similar effect but with smaller flower heads. 

Above: Fall Asters and Globe Thistle

There are now varieties of Iris that will bloom twice, Spring and Fall.  No garden should be without Showy Stone Crop, Sedum spectabile, ‘Autumn Joy.  There are other varieties also in a similar form and colour.  Chrysanthemums have a reputation for not being hardy here and certainly, the very large and showy flowered varieties are not.  However there are several smaller flowered and just as pretty varieties, that are hardy.  ‘Clara Curtis’ is fabulous, I think.  It has clouds of pink flowers that bloom until a very hard frost, sometimes as late as November.  I love it as a cut flower.  ‘Mary Stoker’ is a yellow form.  ‘Morden’ varieties of Chrysanthemum were bred in Manitoba to be hardy.  There are several terrific shades but just look for ‘Morden’ on the label.  Many of the potted Chrysanthemums sold in grocery stores are not hardy for here but some might be. They are mass produced for sales across the climate zones. Always check the label.

below: Autumn flowering Monkshood, Aconitum carmichaelii and the turning leaves of Acer ginnala or Amur maple.

Rudbeckias, all sorts, will share their sunny faces until the end of October.  The cottage garden Rudbeckia lacianata e.g. ‘Golden Glow,’ fondly known as the ‘Outhouse Plant,’ is becoming popular once again.  It can reach a height of six feet and put on a terrific fall show although it does require firm support unlike most Rudbeckias or Black-Eyed Susans.  Fall flowering Heleniums have a similar effect to Rudbeckias in the garden. If you don’t like the bright yellow of Rudbeckias, Echinacea has a soft pink/purple flower that holds it shape into winter.  The Fall flowering Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ is also pink and very attractive.  A favourite of mine is Cimifuga or Bugbane.  For its foliage alone, ‘Brunette’ is worth having and its flower plumes are scented, great treat.  Fall flowering Crocus packs a powerful punch at the end of the season because it is such a surprise. We must not forget Perovskia or Russian Sage that many mistake for Lavender. Deer do NOT touch it and it makes a lovely airy splash of blue August to October. If you can find a well contained space for Physalis alkekengi, you will love having them for Hallowe’en. This plant is a major spreader however, so be careful where you plant it.

Above: Fall garden and Chinese Lantern.

With Spring in mind it is well worth checking online bulb catalogues for now is the time to get planting bulbs. The choices seem endless.  Snow Crocus, Snowdrops, Chinodoxa and Pushkinia, small Iris varieties are some of the earliest bulbs to put colour into the garden and will bloom as the snow recedes.  Muscari or Grape Hyacinths (they really do look like small bunches of grapes), planted in drifts through the perennial or rock garden look gorgeous in April or early May.  Planted with daffodils or tulips they form the classic spring picture.  Grape Hyacinths multiply rapidly so you can lift them and spread them around the garden. ( See my previous post on Bulbs)

Now too is time to plant later-flowering bulbs.  There are bulbs that will bloom right through the summer.    Many can and should be planted now.  Alliums or ornamental onions in particular, have become very popular, especially the tall border varieties.  These distinctive flowers come in many sizes and when they bloom, their spherical clusters of flowers grab everyone’s attention.

 It is worth visiting nurseries in the fall to also see the colours that trees and shrubs take on. Trees such as ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple and shrubs such as Euonymous alatus, Burning Bush make a stunning display in Autumn. ‘Tiger Eyes’ Sumac is a stunning variety of Sumac and borderline in Zone 3 but in a sheltered spot will do fine.

On the food front, now is the time to plant garlic which does beautifully in our climate. It is an easy crop. Spinach can be planted now for an early start in March. The Kale you may have planted in the spring will now become more sweet with the frosts and is good for a long time into winter. Parsnips and carrots can stay in the ground until the ground is solidly frozen but even if you don’t get the parsnips out in time, they will be even more sweet in spring.  

Rather than forgetting about the garden because snow is arriving on the mountain tops, it is worth thinking about how you can extend the season. Perennials planted now will need an extra mulch and a good watering in but will be ready to go next year and be better established than if you plant in spring. The bulbs have their food stores for quick growth come spring and if you have new perennials, you will have lots of happy anticipation through the dark days of winter.

Don’t let go of the garden just yet!

Below: Russian Sage, Perovskia on September 29th

Next week – Planting for Winter Interest and Preparation