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Mia Jenkins
Mia Jenkins is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, located in the Museums on the River District at 701 Amidon. Botanica was opened to the public in 1987 to generate enthusiasm for horticulture and enlighten people through educational, artistic, and cultural experiences. With this mission, Botanica’s gardens and programs expand public awareness of horticulture, educate Kansans about how nature can improve their daily lives, and assist in the promotion of community development.Feel free to contact Botanica for information on volunteering, special events or for what’s in bloom at 316-264-0448.
Flowers & Plants
2009-10-01 09:07:00
Adding color to your fall garden
Question: What plants provide color to the fall garden?
Answer: Traditionally, people think of fall color in terms of woody plants, focusing on the bold and brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red and brown in trees and shrubs. With the seasonal change, many flowers come to life in the fall, showcasing their vibrant colors to accent the landscape. Here are some suggestions of fall-blooming perennials and annuals that will make your autumn garden shine. Perennials Chrysanthemums When thinking of fall flowers, mums instantly come to mind. Chrysanthemums come into their own just as other parts of the garden begin to tire from the summer heat. They add dramatic shots of color whether planted as accents in borders or planted in masses. The bold colors range from cream and lemony yellows to rich wines and burgundys, from pinks and lavenders to reds and bronzes. Chrysanthemums may live for several years in one location. However, they typically perform best the first year so it is a good idea to replace plants annually. You may leave them in the landscape to return next year, but will need to pinch and fertilize the plants throughout the summer. Asters Next to mums, asters are some of the most popular flowers of the fall garden. And for good reason--their blooms come in beautiful shades of purples, pinks, reds, blues, whites and lavenders. They’re also one of the last flowers to leave the garden, blooming prolifically from August through October. Asters have 1” daisy-like flowers two to three weeks prior to mum blossoms. The Dwarf type are compact, 18” mounded plants and the New England type are 3-6’ tall. Asters should be planted in either the fall or spring in moist, well-drained soil. They prefer full sun, but they will tolerate light shading. It’s also important to amend the soil with organic matter prior to planting. Other perennials or bulbs with fall interest: Anemones, Boltonia, Colchicum, Coreopsis, Crocus, Lycoris and Tricyrtis, along with ornamental grasses. Annuals: Flowering Cabbage and Kale While these are listed as flowering cabbage and kale, they are planted in the fall for their colorful leaves, not their flowers. In our region, it is best to plant ornamental cabbage and kale in September or in October. As the temperatures cool down, these plants come alive with vibrant shades of pink and white on plants reaching up to 12” tall and 18-24” in diameter. They are frost hardy and can often last in the landscape until mid-February. Pansies Planted in masses, pansies add the perfect punch of color to the landscape. September is the best time to plant pansies in our area. A fall planting allows the plants to grow a deeper root system, which allows them to grow further into next summer. Pansies prefer well-drained soil and are hardy to -20 degrees. You will need to water and fertilize your pansies now and throughout the winter and spring. For your efforts, they will reward you with colorful blossoms in the dead of winter and big, gorgeous flowers next spring. Other annuals with fall interest: Cassia alata and Salvia leucantha With these simple additions, you too can enjoy one last blast of color before winter takes hold. If you are looking for inspiration, Botanica is the perfect place to see color this fall. More than 40 varieties of pansies and more than 20 varieties of mums will combine with other flowers and numerous trees and shrubs to showcase beautiful fall tones for your viewing pleasure from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Take advantage of the fall planting season and add some color to your landscape. From our garden to yours- best of luck in all of your gardening endeavors!
 
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