Some flowers are still blooming in September

Jill Severn portrait

Move over chrysanthemums and dahlias: you’re not the only flowers blooming this fall. Here’s some competition:

Pink California poppies: Loveliness that lasts

These are pink California Poppies.

These were planted from seed in 2022 to serve as the front of a flower border. They bloomed that year from June until frost. Then they reseeded right where they’d been planted, popped up early this spring, and have been blooming since the 10^th of May.

It isn’t just their long season of bloom that’s pleasing; it’s the tiny drama each bud performs as it emerges from its sepal. The pink petals inside that green covering push it up, so that the sepal looks like a tall pointed hat. Soon, the growing petals push off the hat, and emerge as a rich, dark magenta. As they open, the color fades to shades of ever-softer pink, giving the bed of poppies a range of deep-to-delicate colors, all rising from grey-green feathery foliage. The drama concludes with slender wands full of seeds arching overhead, promising a repeat performance next year.

California poppies are more typically orange, but seeds are now available in a range of colors, which you can find online and on seed racks in spring.

Heirloom cosmos, infinitely graceful

These are Cosmos.

Cosmos also returned this year from heirloom seeds planted several years ago. They are tall and rangy and will apparently reseed forever. In the spring, they are easy to dig up and move around. While they prefer full sun, they will do with less. If you have time and patience to deadhead them, they will keep blooming from July through October.

Newer varieties are shorter and bushier, but the heirloom varieties – easy to find on seed racks in the spring – have more delicate and varied colors.

Passionately purple asters

These Perennial Asters are also known as Michaelmas Daisies.

Perennial asters, also known as Michaelmas daisies, are hardy, easy to grow, and adaptable. They thrive in most soils, even with far less than full sun. Bees are crazy for them. Clumps grow larger year by year and can be divided easily in the spring or fall. The only chore they require is a haircut in early June to make them about a third shorter.  This encourages them to be bushier, to develop more flowers, and to stand up straight rather than falling over.

Two years ago, I came across a deep purple one. Aside from the color, which is rich, dark and spectacular, this one has another unusual feature: It is just now starting to bloom, as its paler, bluer cousins are passing their peak.

Last year I went looking for more and could not find them anywhere, but happily, the clumps are growing fast. The bees will be pleased that their aster feast will last longer into the fall, and I will be pleased to have more with every passing year.

If you see one of these online or in a nursery, don’t miss your chance.

Jill Severn writes from her home in Olympia, where she grows vegetables, flowers, and a small flock of chickens. She loves conversation among gardeners. Start one by emailing her at  jill@theJOLTnews.com