Flowering kale is the best selection for autumn color and will withstand mild freezing temperatures for most of the winter in the Pacific Northwest. They mix well with pansies and come in a variety of colors and textures.
I raked another pile of leaves into the street to be picked up by the city....carefully raking between the perennials and removing the dead foilage. The hosta leaves were golden yellow and they pulled out of the ground easily. They'll be back next spring. Tucking in the perennials is easy....just pull off the dead foilage and make sure there is mulch that covers the crown of the root system. A friend wrote and asked if she should prune back her roses....and the answer is no. Cut off the old blossoms......but pruning is done in early, early spring when little buds start showing. Tucking in your garden is like pulling up the covers for a long winter's nap.
