Keep your garden looking colorful with autumn flowers

Summer has ended, but that doesn't mean your garden is done for the year. Keep the color coming with fall-bloom varieties.

Autumn flowers come in rich colors that revive the garden. For success in enjoying such plants in the autumn landscape, one needs to plan ahead, no later than mid September ( in case you live in a warm climate).

You surely shouldn't wait for late autumn, as putting them in the ground too late robs you of much of what little time you have to enjoy them.

So grab the opportunity and fill your garden with these fall flowers perfect for late-season color. Balloon flower

These blue bloomers also go by the name Chinese Bellflower, but the balloon moniker is right on the money. The buds will actually puff up until they pop open, revealing the beautiful bell-shaped flowers.

The extracts from the roots may exhibit antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Orpine 'Purple Emperor'

Flat heads of tiny ruby-red stars held on strong stems and supported by neatly crimped, chocolate-purple foliage. Aster

Aster flowers can truly be called the queen of autumn flowers. Bouquets of this "royal flower" are kept fresh for about two weeks.

These beautiful flowers are geographically diverse plants, and will grow in zones 3-8, depending on the variety. These plants are easy to grow in average soil. At the same time they require the full sun.

Aster flowers are used for their strong medicinal properties in some parts of the world. Chinese Lantern

While the bell flowers look pretty in the summertime, the colorful pods make this ornamental plant so popular. Chinese Lantern requires little fuss, but it'll spread quickly if left to its own devices. Heather

With white, pink or purple flowers, heathers carpet large areas with tons of color. The green, bronze and red foliage also add interest in the wintertime. Aconitum

Monkshood or wolfsbane adds blue and purple color to a season dominated by warm tones. The tall spires may look beautiful, but be careful handling this poisonous plant.

They thrive in garden soils, and grow in the shade of trees. Red-hot poker 'Tawny King'

A mixture of maple syrup and cream on this long-flowering poker that delivers in flushes. These plants are easy to grow in well-draining soil. Bergamot 'Squaw' (Monarda)

Brash scarlet flowers make this robust grower a show-stopper in September. The black pepper-pot seedheads last through winter too. Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum flowers bloom in various forms. Their bloom come in a variety of shapes and sizes and in a wide range of colors.

These plants should be planted in well-draining soil. Chrysanthemum leaves are steamed or boiled and used as greens, especially in Chinese cuisine. Dahlia

Dahlias are the peonies of fall. Dahlia flowers will please your eyes until the first frost. They are stunning in any garden.

The more you cut them, the more flowers they produce. These wonderful plants are easy to care for and come in a variety of exotic colors and shapes.