By late summer and into the fall it is difficult to find good flowering perennial flowers. Last summer I planted some Japanese Anemone for the first time and was very pleased with what they did in the garden. The plant was also recommended as a good cut flower and that was a bonus. The plants grew rapidly and quickly developed a large mound of foliage that was dark green, slightly hairy, and deeply cut or lobed. The mound of foliage grew 18 to 24 inches tall and just as wide. In august the flower buds began to developed and kept forming on the plant right up until frost. The flowers grew on 12 inch plus stems so they were well above the foliage and from a distance they looked a lot like the dahlia plant. When the flower buds first appeared they had a silvery appearance that made them very noticeable on the dark green foliage. The flower buds open to a large cup-shaped flower with a delicate satiny appearance. The center of the bloom was green marble- like and was surrounded with fluffy yellow pollen sacks. The flowers were 3 to 4 inches wide and came in pink, red, purple, and white. When you plant Anemones, select a location with full sun to partial shade to increase the flowers on the plant. Your soil should be well drained with no standing water ever. Condition the soil with plenty of organic matter such as peat moss, animal manure and compost. Anemones love a rich soil that is fertile so during the growing season feed regularly with a flower fertilizer such as 10.10.10, or chicken manure monthly. These plant are long lived but should be mulched during the winter in most areas. Divide in the spring if plants are getting to large for the flowerbed. Just split them in two or three clumps and replant them 2 feet apart. The Anemone will look great in a mass planting, mixed borders, or in a wildflower, meadow or woodland garden. There is one thing you must know about the Anemone is poisonous if eaten so it may not be a plant for the gardener who has small children.
"Phlox - mixed colors"
The summer perennial garden would not be complete without the tall Phlox filling your garden with large clusters of fragrant flowers. The tall Phlox will grow to 2 to 3 feet tall and just as wide in a large clump with dense foliage that is dark green in color and narrow pointed. The flowers have five-petals and are flat from side to side about one inch wide. The flower always has two shades in the petals with the center either darker or lighter in color. The center of the flower has a noticeable hole in it that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds while in bloom. The flowers begin to form in august and last well into September. The colors are shades of pink, red, salmon, purple, blue, mauve, white and many bi-colors. When you plant in your garden be sure to select a sunny location in the garden and keep the plants out of gardens that have a sprinkler system. Tall Phlox will do best is a well-ventilated area so give them room to allow the air to circulate during the summer. If the plant is in a cramp area or gardens that get watered often the foliage will quickly develop Powdery Mildew disease and fall apart quickly. The back of perennial borders or a windy location is best. When planting be sure to add soil conditioners such as peat moss, animal manure and compost. Tall Phlox loves to be fertilized monthly with a granular fertilizer or chicken manure. The best soil is one that is well drained and never holds water during the spring. You can divide in the spring when the plant is about one inch tall by splitting the plant into small clumps. Plant clumps 2 feet apart in mass plantings, mixed borders, cottage gardens or in your cut flower garden.
In the fall most of the garden has begun to die back for the year but if you want color into October, then think of the New England Aster. This wonderful fall flowering Aster begins in September and last thru October covering the dark green foliage with one- inch diameter daisy-like flowers. The flowers come in blue, purple, pink, red or white and butterflies and bees love the flowers. Fall Aster