I don’t feel it’s coming to an end just yet. Maybe I’m hopelessly optimistic, but save for a gash of bloodred virginia creeper at the back of the garden, autumn hasn’t arrived in the flower borders. This is partly because I’ve used plants which are masters of deception: late-flowering verbenas, cosmos, cobaeas, passion flowers, tagetes and some incredibly enthusiastic lavenders.
I love autumn colour, but I also love pretending the cold, dark nights aren’t on their way. Even if I can’t actually see the garden in the light except at weekends, have pulled out my winter duvet, and have started planning projects for the long winter nights, I like to pretend that if I wanted to, I could float onto the lawn in sundress and lie on the warm, dry grass.
So, in the spirit of total denial, here’s the Fennel and Fern guide to deceptively summery autumn flowers:
Michaelmas daisies
Cosmos
French marigold
Calendula
Japanese anemone
Cobaea
Passion flower
Verbena
Rudbeckia
Canna
Dahlia
Salvia
Pelargonium
Penstemon
Sedum
Clematis tangutica
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