Visiting gardens near and far is always fun. I love to be shown new ways to use familiar plants, new design ideas for pathways, patios and structures, and simply things that make me pause. I glean ideas not only for my own garden but for the gardens I design for others. Last month I led a garden tour to the Hudson River Valley where we saw a wide variety of both public and private gardens which featured everything from cascading waterfalls to camels (yes, honestly) so thought I'd share a few of my favorite ideas for fall color with you today. These are all ideas that you can simplify to a single container garden or expand to fill a border, no matter where you live.

Color Highlights with Annuals

Annuals are a fun way to experiment with color. I think this coleus may be Alabama Sunset – it is certainly very similar with a distinct golden yellow eye and rosy-red surround . Here it was paired with a bromeliad, Aechema tillandsioides 'Variegata' highlighting the gold with the outer margins on the bromeliad leaves. You could get the same effect with a variegated yucca such as Color Guard. Less dramatic but equally lovely would be a pairing with Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') – imagine that in a glossy black container. Mmmm Tawny grasses and pink-hued sedum are a mainstay of the fall garden – yet I love how this splash of white brought new life to this pairing through the use of white Profusion zinnias. I grow zinnias each year as they are so reliable – and deer resistant, often focusing on shades of coral or the red/yellow bicolor. Maybe I need to add some white in the mix next time! White cosmos also bloom well into fall and would give a similar look although you would want to plant them at the back since they are much taller. Likewise white tobacco plant (Nicotiana spp.) would be pretty. Celosia is a late summer annual that comes in a range of fiery or neon hues. Plumed celosia resemble feather dusters – or flames, so were a whimsical addition to this formal knot garden. Again, this would be easy to replicate using different annuals such as wax begonias or impatiens. The red and orange flowers also highlighted the colors of the brick, which makes a perfect segue to my next observation;

Color Highlights with Brick

Wethersfield Estate & Garden is considered one of the finest classical gardens in the United States – so of course I had to take our guests there! We managed about an hour before the heavens opened – but we still had time to appreciate the extensive gardens and especially the use of brick to create enclosures, focal points, and backdrops. If terracotta and brick are perfect partners, hydrangeas are the final flourish. Time and again I found myself photographing the fall blush of hydrangeas against the back drop of a brick wall.

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If you've enjoyed this armchair travel – would you like to join me in person on my next adventure? I have just 5 spots left for my Spring Celebrations tour to England next May which will include the Chelsea Flower Show, the Cotswolds and some lesser known spots in South Wales. I'll also be releasing my tour to New Zealand (fall 2025) shortly to newsletter subscribers.