Fall in Love with Anemones

Happy Fall Good Earth friends! The approach of Autumn is a bittersweet time in the perennial garden. As the profusion of summer bloomers begin to fade, it’s time to put some thought into late blooming perennials. Not only do they extend the beauty of flower power in your garden but, maybe more importantly, they continue to provide good food for your pollinators. Currently we are highlighting fall blooming Anemones on our tables. There are also spring blooming & summer blooming varieties so next year keep a look out for these too.

Anemones hold delicate flowers on swaying stems above a rosette of deeply lobed, whorls of leaves. Each plant has a lot of blooms and they last a long time!   The common name Windflower is easy to trace especially once you notice these gently swaying bouquets. The perennial will initially clump. But once settled they will naturalize by way of underground rhizomes or tubers. Don’t let this scare you though. Placement is important.

In our area, fall Windflowers generally prefer a rich humusy soil that is moist but not constantly wet. They grow best in partial shade or morning sun. They come in a variety of heights. Consider adding Windflower to areas with large broad leafed Hostas or shade tolerant ornamental grasses like Northern Sea Oats or Switch Grass. Mix them in with an astilbe with a different leaf color like Dark Side of the Moon. Place them under a lovely Beautyberry shrub to compliment the late season purple berries. Grow them along side a patch of native Blue Wood Aster and Golenrod by a back patio that you can finally go out and enjoy again after the summer heat. Send us pictures of your ideas to pass along to our community of gardeners!

- Nancy Corr