Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

FALL PLANTING

Perennials, Planning, and the Music of the Garden

Fall isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how autumn planting sets the stage for spring beauty, and how sensory gardens offer year-round joy, connection, and renewal.

The gardener in you will immediately know what I am talking about. Fall is the perfect time to plant those perennials that you will depend on in the spring. Astilbe, Meadow Sweet, Coreopsis, Arkansas Blue Star, Coneflower, etc. The beauty of perennials is that they return each year to give you pleasure. What else could do that? Consistent beauty. Lovely scents. And many of them attract beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds. The perennials will give pleasure year after year. Of course, you will have to do a bit of weeding as nature always provides a challenge.

One of the joys of a flower garden is that it stimulates all of your senses. Of course, many of the flowers are fragrant, and I suppose that is part of what attracts butterflies and birds. Just like us, they cannot help but stick their noses into the sweet-smelling flowers. The colors are also attractive. Bright yellows, luscious whites, blues, and oranges all come together like a gorgeous painting. The eyes are delighted! And if you have a sweet bench to sit on, you will be rewarded with the sounds of the garden as well. Oh! I bet you did not realize that the garden has its own music to present.

Sit quietly on the bench in the corner of the garden. The Anemones stand tall along the fence and wave their stems in the breeze. As they gently touch each other, a luscious swish rises on the wind. Even though the Clematis is attached to a trellis so that it can climb and climb, the wind moves the vines around, and even the trellis creaks. The sage grass, gorgeous in purple, does a wild swish swish as its tendrils are tossed in the breeze. And even the bees and butterflies make their own music as they move from bloom to bloom.

The garden is a lovely place to sit. The time on your hands and knees was worth it. The sweat dripping off your nose was worth it. The dragging of bags of dirt and mulch was worth it.

Now, you are looking forward to the winter when the catalogs start to roll in, and you can dream and plan for the next growing season. Perhaps that ground cover that you thought was lovely has taken over too much space, and you are going to rip it out. What will take its place? Perhaps the Hollyhock that you were looking forward to because you remember making dolls out of the blooms just could not thrive and must be replaced. How about a rose bush?

The evenings sitting by the fire will be filled with planning and ordering.

Want to explore fall planting and sensory garden design? Visit The Garden Magazine’s guide to fall sensory gardens, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s advice on fall perennials, and Nature Hills’ tips for designing a fall sensory garden.

If gardening stirs reflection or emotional renewal, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support seasonal insight and personal growth.