| All great gardens have one thing in common. That | | | | a bit in the fall with many perennials blooming in |
| is, they offer something during each of the four | | | | shades of yellow, orange and purple. Among |
| seasons. Through spring and summer the colorful | | | | these flowers are the annuals, which continue to |
| flowers of perennials, annuals and flowering trees | | | | flower until the first frost. Later in the season, the |
| and shrubs are the focal point in the garden. Once | | | | flowers, especially those of the sedum and |
| the summer flowers begin to fade, the brilliant, | | | | black-eyed Susan, turn into brown and rust |
| colorful foliage of autumn brightens the garden. In | | | | colored seed heads. They fit in perfectly with the |
| the winter, it's the evergreens, berries and bark | | | | colorful fall foliage of the surrounding trees. The |
| which provide the garden with color as the form | | | | foliage of the late season perennial is attractive on |
| and shape of the plants become more prominent. | | | | its own. |
| Green is the dominant color in the garden in the | | | | Once the blooms of the these flowers fade |
| spring as everything seems to be rapidly putting | | | | deciding whether to cut them back is up to the |
| out new growth. The bulbs and perennials which | | | | individual gardener. Some perennials will collapse to |
| do flower in the early spring do so against a | | | | the ground anyways while others will remain |
| backdrop of green foliage and brown earth. Bulbs | | | | standing though the winter with their showy seed |
| are earliest blooming plants in the garden and are | | | | heads creating off season interest in the garden. |
| essential to the spring landscape. Some bulbs will | | | | Winter, the season in which many gardeners |
| even provide color until more perennials begin to | | | | forget about the landscape, can offer color and |
| bloom in May and June. | | | | visual interest through evergreen shrubs, bark, |
| Early flowering perennials such as iris range in color | | | | plant form and seed heads. For example, a clump |
| from white to yellow to purple and in size from a | | | | of ornamental grass could be left standing through |
| few inches to 4 feet. For spring foliage, plant | | | | the winter. Redtwig dogwoods are great against |
| some hosta, they grow in a wide variety of | | | | the snow and birch trees have colorful, flaking |
| greens, from blue-green to yellow-green and | | | | bark. The winter landscape truly would be empty |
| they're the perfect backdrop plant for the spring | | | | with the hardy evergreen trees and shrubs. |
| flowers. | | | | Garden walls and fences become more prominent |
| Perennial borders peak in mid summer as a wide | | | | as the foliage which screens them in the summer |
| range of sun-loving flowers begin to bloom. Part | | | | disappears. Hedges, as well as walls, make a |
| of the mix include some leftovers from spring | | | | stronger statement in winter. protecting houses |
| and, towards the end of summer, there are signs | | | | from icy blasts and sky-high heating bills. |
| of the later blooming flowers as well. Annuals are | | | | With some careful planning, it is possible to have a |
| also in full bloom mid-summer. Though most have | | | | beautiful garden year round. Even in winter, when |
| finished flowering, fully leafed out shrubs can add | | | | everything seems to be stark and barren. A few |
| a lushness to the garden. | | | | choice shrubs or trees can provide winter interest |
| A third wave of blooms begin brighten up the | | | | and a well thought out garden can flower from |
| garden once again as the summer flowers begin | | | | early spring until the first frost. |
| to fade. The colors in the garden begin to change | | | | |