Heleniums' heyday

This is the season when Nancy and I do a lot of digging and dividing and otherwise doing large improvements on gardens.

This morning we were moving around some heleniums, which are a wonderful fall flower that isn't used as much as it should be.

It has the somewhat unfortunate name of Sneezeweed, which could possibly be the reason it isn't more popular, but is a native and it stands out in the garden. This variety that Nancy photographed in our yard could be the cultivar "Superbum," which grows about 5 feet tall and three feet wide. This is hardy to Zone 3, which means it is could go anywhere in Maine, including the coldest parts of Aroostook County.

One thing I like about it is that even though it is a tall plant, it stands up straight all on its own. No staking required.

This variety, with a photo borrowed from the Estabrooks Web site, is Mardi Gras. I like it because it has the great fall colors, but it is only about 3 feet tall and hardy to only Zone 4.

They are something you could put into your garden instead of chrysanthemums.

Sunday's column was about a really great natural swimming pool in Buxton. This is a way to make swimming a real part of your garden, not a blue intrusion into it. I am not sure you could get one of those installed before snow flies, but you do have a lot of time for some good garden projects.

Dig and divede some of your own perennials or buy them from a nursery. There are a lot of sales going on.