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Health & Fitness

Fall Beauties

As many of my summer blooming perennials and annuals are fading, I'm ready to see my fall favorites. There are many flowers that wait until nearly the very end of the growing season to make an appearance, and they are spectacular. I'll share just a few of my late summer/fall choices.

Sunflowers: Ranging from 1 foot tall to an astounding 16 feet, sunflowers come in a wide range of colors and varieties. I love Mammoth sunflowers which reach unbelievable heights of 10-12 feet. I also really love the Fire in the Sky hybrid for their dark red/amber coloring. Regardless of variety, sunflowers are perfect for fall and make incredible centerpieces. Many of them start blooming during the peak of summer, but continue right into the fall months.

Chrysanthemums: I just love the look of potted mums on my porch steps in the fall. You can find them in autumn-appropriate colors of magenta, burnt red, orange, gold and yellow. They will hold their color right on through the first days of winter. To me, they are a must-have. Tip: the vendors at Eastern Market usually have reasonable prices. Go get some. Now.

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Joe Pye Weed: I personally don't have any Joe Pye Weed in my garden…yet. They are definitely on my list for next year due to their height and late blooming nature. They are perfect for the back of the border. Joe, I'm coming for you in 2014. That's a promise.

Pansies: Don't overlook pansies in the garden. While they are annuals, I find that they WILL last from spring through fall. So, to me, they are a great investment. Plus you can find them in so many shades, from yellow to black, and even multi-colored. For my fall flower boxes, I typically include black, orange, and purple pansies and combine them with flowering kale or multi-colored ornamental peppers, the end result is spooktacular.

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Montauk Daisy: Most daisies bloom from July thru September, but I have a variety called Montauk that actually doesn't start blooming until October. Their foliage teases me all summer long but alas, when others are fading, this one is just kicking off. This type blooms for 4-6 weeks too.

Sedum: I love the look of sedum in the middle of the garden. There are a few fabulous colors to choose from: burnt red, red, and my personal favorite, bright magenta. You know that fall is just around the corner when sedum starts to bloom.

Ornamental Grasses: Adding a bit of texture to the garden, there is a wide variety of ornamental grasses with plumes that start to show in late summer/early fall. I have a fountain grass (I believe it's a pennisetum alopecuroides). Their color changes from tan to brilliant dark red and also provides some winter interest.

These are just a handful of my favorites that rally this time of year, making the transition from summer to fall just a bit more palatable.

Did I miss any that would be on your list?

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