Fall Gardens
Take, for example, Hubricht's bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii, USDA zones 4 to 9), which when massed produces a cloud of bright yellow, then orange, then finally a rusty brown before defoliating. It is about 3 feet tall and wide, prefers full sun and medium to dry soil, and has bright blue flowers in late spring.
• October is the perfect time to divide spring-blooming wildflowers and ephemerals. Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) benefits from division and immediate replanting. • Plant spring-blooming bulbs as well. Put some in containers for forcing to enjoy early blooms indoors. Set the pots in a cool, dark place and water the bulbs weekly.
Sedum is a great fall color perennial, and the cultivar 'Autumn Joy' has reliable golden hues. There are ground cover sedums that get orange and bright red, and since they are a succulent, they're easy to reproduce — just snap off a stem and put it in the soil; in a few years you'll have a nice specimen. Most sedums like dry to medium soil in full to partial sun, and they are a great nectar source for pollinating insects.
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