One of the benefits of living south of the Mason-Dixon line is year-round gardening. The garden’s beauty doesn’t have to wane with the light levels, though. There are many flowers that should be planted in late summer to bloom all fall and give your yard a beautiful look even as the days get shorter.
Perennial Sunflower
All are familiar with the giant sunflower, so warm and friendly. Lesser known are perennial sunflowers, which are much smaller and more delicate, yet still beautiful and classic. Some varieties grow four feet tall, while others only reach one foot, giving you plenty of options to pick the right one for your backyard.
Mexican Sage
Mexican Sage is grown as a perennial in warm climates, and an annual in cooler climates. It grows wide and shrubby, with long stems of purple and white blossoms. It smells pleasant, and attracts hummingbirds, giving you a great opportunity to spend some time out on your porch or deck watching.
Clematis
Clematis are a vigorous vine, which can grace any fence or arbor. Their blossoms are purple, and shaped sort of like a parasol. They are perennials, and may take several years to reach their full size of ten to twenty feet long, but it’s worth the wait and something you can enjoy as the nights get colder.
Marigolds
Marigolds, those beautiful brassy-golden flowers, bloom all season. French Marigolds, Signet Marigold, and the giant African marigolds are the most popular, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. All marigolds attract butterflies, and repel insects who would eat your vegetables so you can plant them all around your garden. Plant Marigolds in spring, or any time through the season. They will grow until the frost.
Take the time now to plant those buds you want to pop up in the autumn months and have your yard blooming with the prettiest plants this fall.
