By Kerri Williams
Years ago, when our family lived in New Jersey, I like to say that we had the best autumn plant display around. And I didn’t have to lift a finger to make it happen. That’s because we lived on a dirt road across the street from a chrysanthemum farm. The colors of bright red, yellow and orange filled the expansive field and made for a magnificent scene.
Like me, you may be seeing pots of mums as you venture about recently and are getting the itch to create your own fall display. While mums are an easy option, you may want to think outside the box when adding plants to your front step this year. That’s because some native plants, like the aster, are more beneficial to pollinators and can look just as festive for fall.
As I walked around my yard this week, I noted that the wild asters all around my property are just beginning to bloom. Soon there will be patches of the dainty, purple flowers all around, creating a fall scene that rivals the one at our New Jersey home.
Alice Ely
For Alice Ely, a Weston resident and UConn advanced master gardener, the asters, and other native flowers, are the way to go when decorating for fall. That’s because many pollinators are actively looking for nectar this time of year and need those native flowers to survive and thrive.
“So many wonderful natives shine in the fall garden,” Alice said. “Showy goldenrod, purple asters, sneezeweed, blanket flower, black eyed Susans and bayberry. I try to focus my efforts on growing these,” Alice said.
Add the natives
And many of those plants look just as pretty in pots for a fall feature. You may have to look around a little more, but many nurseries carry asters in pots that can be added to your display. One of those places is Gilbertie’s Garden Center, on Sylvan Lane, which just got a shipment of asters this week.
One of the nice things about asters is that they are a perennial that will thrive in your garden for years to come if you plant them when done displaying them. While some varieties of mums are also perennial, they are not as hardy and require a little more care to have them come up another year.
Perennials
If you want your potted fall flowers to last longer, look for ones where the flowers have yet to open. And if you want to replant them in your garden, it’s worth the extra expense to go to a nursery for quality plants.
“If you buy quality plants from a reputable garden center and give them proper care, you have a much better chance of them thriving,” said Cathy Gilbertie Knipper, who heads up communications for Gilbertie’s.
Gilbertie’s also has fall planters and displays that can inspire you when creating your own. Potted asters can look wonderful displayed in groups or as part of a larger fall planter with other flowers. Placing hay bales, pumpkins, gourds and other decorative items nearby adds to the look.
Sage
One creative tip from Cathy is to think about using the herb sage, either alone or added to a planter, as part of a fall display. The texture of the herb, along with the color, which can be a muted green or dark purple, adds a nice touch. And, as a bonus, you have the sage on hand for your Thanksgiving dressing.
Water
Whether you plant your fall flowers in the ground or keep them in containers, don’t forget to water them, says Joe Gloria, perennial manager at Gilbertie’s. With the weather cooler, many people begin to pull back from their summer watering schedules. But when planting something new, it needs attention and regular watering.
So why not branch out this fall when creating your fall display and include some plants for the pollinators? Adding asters to your garden and to your autumn planters might just have you seeing purple this fall.
Recent Cultivating with Kerri articles
Kerri Williams
Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.
Recent Comments