Evening star., 1951-05-20
Color for Fall Gardens
Spring Planning May Produce Brilliant
Color in the Garden During Fall Months
By w. H. Younemon
corden Editor

Editor
time before moving them into the
display garden.
Even the gaudy Zinnias may be
counted on to provide a mass color
lin the fall garden If given protec-
'ltion from the mildew which often
attacks their foliage when nights
become chilly. Dusting the foliage
with sulphur is probably the cas-
lest method for control of mildew.
Without this protection zinnias
cannot be depended on to carry
their continuous bloom into Oc-
tober or, if frosts hold off, into
early November, except in the
more protected sections OF the
city.
Marigolds ana petunias begin to
decline when the nights become
cool and so are not as dependable
as the zinnias. Dahlias, however.
will continue to flower until frost
stops them If they are planted
rather late in May. Early planted
dahlias seem to run their season"
regardless of temperature if
planted early in the spring. This
will vary according to type and
variety.
A Good Fall BlOOmer.
The Japanese anemone is a
good fall bloomer in moist situa-
Itions or when the soil is we'll
enough prepared that the needed
moisture is continually available
ito the plants. Some protection
from the midday and afternoon
sun seems to benefit the growth
and freedom of bloom. At least
the best specimens noted were
those growing on the east side of
the house. Light shade from near
by trees might accomplish the
same results.
The tropical Gamma is another
bloomer that carries on until frost
puts an end to its continuous dis
play of red, yellow and white.
Some gardeners like the bright
lcolors Of the Gamma so well that
they protect the bed on frosty
nights early in the season so as
ito have bloom during our Indian
summer.
Many other perennials carry
their floral displays into October
and, If protected from frost, into
November The tall growing hardy
Iasters, the purple conef1ower
(Rudbeckia), the sunflowers He
lianthus), several of the hele-
Iniums, the modern versions of the
red hot poker Kniphofia-for-
Imerly listed as Tritoma), pen
Istemon gloxinoides are some of
the more widely grown. Besides
the ZinniaS, ANIMALS which put
forth late summer and fall dis
plays include the tall growing
cosmos, the Mexican sunflower
(Tithonia), nasturtiumS. verbenas,
phlox Drummondi, annual gaillar-
dia.
Shrubs for Color.
But it is not necessary or even
desirable that we look entirely to
the flower border for autumn col
orS. Many of the trees and shrubs
provide a display that is we'll
worth considering when selecting
plant material for border and yard.
The smoke tree (Rhus cotinus) !
the dogwoodS, as well as the large
1owered hydrangeas, the althea
(Rose of Sharon, and OCCASION
ally the butterfly bush, provide
color and bloom late into the fall
season. The Japanese maple, al
ways red but brilliant red in the
fall, makes ap excellent specimen
shrub for the yard. There are
several trees with brightly colored
foliage, some Of which retain the
leaves fairly well while others
drop them after a brief display
The NAPLES, especially the sugar
or hard maple, the tulip popular
and the hickory furnish the
brightest yellows. The oaks, for
the most part. paint their foliage
with red. The pin oak holds on
to the dying leaves until early
spring.
Among the berried shrubs the
firethorn (Pyracantha), the beauty
berry (Callicarpa), the. barberry.
Isnowberry, coralberry and the dog
woods are best known for their
late fall and early winter con-
tributions to the color effects Of
the shrub border. The mountain
ash is a small tree with an ef-
fective berry display. but unfor-
tunately 1t is not always happy
in this area. Where suitable con-
fditions prevail. the display of fruit
is always CONSPICUOUS (the Euro
pean mountain ash Is more adap-
table than the native).
Cannas and dahlias are not
the only dubious plants that will
provide fall bloom. However.
while late-planted Towering bulbs
may provide the desirable dis
IplayS. they will not have sufficient