Garden genius: Bold fall brights
Add a hit of happy to your space with these easy-care blooms
Enliven a seating area with a tiered trio
Balancing mums in yellow and orange with bright white blooms creates a modern fall display, says Andy Vernon, author of The Flower-Powered Garden.
And placing the white flowers on the ground below the colorful blooms adds depth without making the corner feel crowded. “This sort of display just wants to be looked at and admired, so choose a location that has maximum impact and can be seen from near and far, like on a veranda or porch,” advises Vernon. For the perkiest blooms, water when the top inch of soil feels dry and cut off individual flowers as they wilt.
Grace a table with a blooming gourd
Using a hollowed-out pumpkin as a decorative planter is a playful salute to fall, says Vernon. “It’s the perfect arrangement to go on a table or on the steps up to a front door.” You can put potting soil right in the pumpkin, as long as you poke a few drainage holes in the base. To guarantee a balanced, eye-catching arrangement, Vernon advises filling the pumpkin with a mix of squat, mediumheight and tall plants. Here, low-profile red-berried wintergreens soften the gourd’s edge and hide the leaves and stems of the sunny, yellow mid-height violas and tall purple heather.
Perk up a quiet corner with a cheery rustic display
“The vintage look of the wire basket and the aged metal pots is full of charm, and the repetition of the same simple, daisy-like pink chrysanthemums makes this arrangement feel whimsical, warm and welcoming,” says Vernon. He suggests placing the display in any corner that needs a burst of color or on a side table near an entryway to welcome guests. For the healthiest blooms, remove wilting flowers and emerging side shoots and water when the soil is dry.