Van Bourgondien

Fall Blooming Color

A few years ago, a friend of mine - a real iris fanatic, sent me a photo that I was sure was a trick. It was full of autumn colors, with blazing trees and shrubs - and, in front, one lone and lovely bearded iris.

Everyone knows that irises don't bloom in the fall. But wait - things have changed.

Irises are the kind of flowers that bloom along its increase. In other words, the piece of the rhizome that bloomed this year won't do so again - but the rhizome will grow and create more spots that will have flowering potential.

Usually, irises grow so slowly that they only manage this increase once a year. But now there is a new breed of iris that grows much faster - so much faster that in some areas of the country it will bloom as many as 5 times a year in warm areas such as Zone 10, California (it won't bloom in Florida, however, because it's just too humid!). But some, such as 'Immortality,' will re-bloom even in Zone 3!

Irises are like the orchids of the garden - showy, great for bouquets and wonderful for creating a splash of color in the garden. So many of us think that by August the garden is on a downhill slide - but in fact, with a few of these babies and some dahlias, coneflowers and other plants that are strong and long bloomers, your autumn garden could just be the best one of all. For one thing, it will be cooler and you will really be able to enjoy sitting out in your colorful late summer garden.

For another, the rebloomers come in enough colors that you can find something to work no matter what your color scheme may be. Invest in cooling drifts of white with 'Immortality' - or add the delicate pink 'Painted Cloud' to a misty pink and silver garden. Another lovely, soft colored flower is that of 'Coral Chalice' which has white standards and falls that fade from salmon pink to pure white. Or go bold with the gold standards and deep red falls of 'Gypsy Caravan'.

And you may have noticed, the approach of autumn also seems to be a good time for blues in the garden. In which case 'Everything Plus' - light blue standards with falls of pure white edged in dark purple - would be a great addition.

Imagine how amazed your friends will be - it seem as though you somehow managed to fool Mother Nature.

In fact, if you really want to amaze them, plant some crocuses alongside the irises. That's right - there are many lovely crocuses that bloom in autumn.

The most famous of these is Crocus sativus, the saffron crocus. You know the spice that is so expensive that some grocery stores keep it under lock and key? You can grow it in your very own garden - and while you may not get enough saffron to make you rich, you'll have a thread or two - enough for most recipes - and a patch of lovely garden flowers as well.

Or, go totally spring like and add a few other crocuses into the mix. Crocus Autumn Lilac (speciosus) is pale lilac with a dark edge. Crocus Autumn Rose (kotschyanus) is a lovely deep rose not often found in the spring blooming varieties, but perfect with the colors of autumn. And if you're still longing for the cool look of white, try Crocus Autumn White (speciosus albus). And finally, there is the crocus that isn't really a crocus, but a Sternbergia - Autumn Gold (sternbergia lutea) - which looks and acts just like a crocus with an identity crisis. You'll see this gold in springtime - but it is also appropriate as we head toward fall and it's worth doing all over again.

While you're busy beautifying the garden and amazing your neighbors - how about checking out a plant that may amaze you as well - one that is so eager to bloom that if you forget to plant it, and let it sit alone and forgotten on the counter, it will flower anyway. Because that's exactly what Colchicum 'The Giant' does. Colchicums look almost exactly like crocuses, but grow from a different sort of bulb. They send up foliage in spring that dies back almost before you notice it. And then, just when you've forgotten all about it, you'll look down and see a quantity of lilac flowers springing up. And if you want something a bit brighter, then you can plant 'Rose' colchicum. There is even a waterlily colchicum which looks so much like a miniature version of its namesake that I plant a bunch by the pond and watch people do double takes all autumn long.

And to think that you thought that there were few surprises left in a garden! Try a few of these plants and you'll soon agree that nature always seems to have one more trick up her sleeve just to surprise and delight us happy gardeners.