Juggling three seasons at once in the garden

In my garden, we're juggling activities that are relevant to three seasons. It's hectic.

The fall projects at this point include sprucing up my patio. It's my outdoor living room and I spend lots of time there. With the help of my gardening buddies, we're adding pots of ornamental peppers and pansies. The 'Harlequin' peppers change from purple to orange to red.

In two urns that are focal points, we're replacing bloomed-out petunias with mums and pansies. Later on, we'll tuck in some miniature pumpkins or gourds.

The shady area beneath my folly is another outdoor living place during hot days. Many houseplants have enjoyed a summer vacation there. Now it's time to haul them inside again. These include umbrella trees, ferns, mother-in-law's tongues, spider plants and asparagus ferns. These easy-care houseplants will continue to thrive in east windows during winter.

We're also thinking ahead to spring. I have half a dozen foxtail aloes (Aloe attenuata). They've been in their pots way too long and have gotten way too leggy. We're lopping off the tops and rooting them in fresh potting soil. We're packing the soil firmly in their new pots so that they stay upright and so that new roots can form along the stem. They'll spend the winter making roots in a sunny window and be ready for display next year.

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